1941-05-08 — Page 2

THE CHINA MAIL, MAY 8, 1941.

Let The Tempest Rage, Let It Roar WE SHALL COME THROUGH, SAYS

PREMIER

Fighting Inspiring Speech In House

"IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO DILATE AT LENGTH UPON THE SAD AND SQUALID TALE OF WHAT IS GOING ON IN VICHY BUT I REALLY DO NOT THINK WE WOULD PROFIT OURSELVES WELL IF WE TARRIED LONG ON THAT PAINFUL SPECTACLE,” SAID MR. WINSTON CHURCHILL, REPLYING YESTERDAY TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS DEBATE ON GOVERNMENT'S PROSECUTION OF THE WAR.

MR. Churchill thanked Mr. Lloyd George for the great restraint with which he spoke about “a country whose relations are so high ceased for a I valued by us and whose part to play in this great world conflict is of the greatest import- ance." (Cheers).

has

German army

and the German unitedly and purely voluntarily race..have become and are becom- in goodwill under the pressure of ing more universally and intense-events. 17 hated among the peoples of all lands than any enemy or any race,

The Record

records.

"personally, as head of the Government, obviously assumed the responsibility in A most direct personal form.

"IT FOLLOWS THAT I AM THE ONE WHOSE HEAD MAY "History bears the

BE CUT OFF IF WE DO NOT (Cheers). Some have compared WIN TUE WAR - AND I AM Hitler's conquests with Napo- | VERY READY THAT THIS leon's. It may be Spain and Rus- SHOULD BE SO -- AND THAT sia will shortly furnish u new BECAUSE MEMBERS OF THE chapter to that theme.

HOUSE WOULD PROBABLY IT MUST BE REMEMBERED, EXPERIENCE AN EVEN MORE HOWEVER, THAT NAPOLEON'S, UNPLEASANT PATE AT THE ARMIES CARRIED WITH THEM! HANDS OF THE TRIUMPHANT THE FIERCE, LIBERATING. HUNS. (LAUGHTER). EQUALITARIAN WINDS OF

THE FRENCH REVOLUTION. Nile Valley Issues

Might Of U.S.

1+>

Our

the

WHEREAS HITLER'S EMPIRE HAS NOTHING BEHIND IT BUT There is a tendency in some RACIAL SELF-ASSERTION,¦ quarters, especially abroad, ESPIONAGE. PILLAGE, COR- talk about the Middle East as RUPTION AND THE PRUSSIAN if we could afford to lose BOOT.

position there and yet carry 071 "Napoleon's flashed away, so the war to victory on the oceans derive confidence that the will and in the air. power of the British nuntion, "Stated as an academic strategic Warned Of Perils

expressing itself through the stern, fact that may be true but do steadfast and unyielding House of not let anyone underrate "Our diplomacy

never|Commons, will once again perform gravity of the issues being fought moment to apprise its liberating functions and hum-for in the Nile Valley. countries of the perils

coming bly execute its high purpose on them and to

"Lose of the Nile Valley and urge

CÜl}{DIE! | among men,

the Suez Canal, of our position action by which alone could

in the Mediterranean, of Malta, security and safety be attained.

"For weeks we watched the

would be among the heaviest blows we could sustain, vast remorseless movements of

"I say this with more confidence "We are determined to fight for German forces through Hungary, because we are no longer a small them with all ! Rumania and Bulgaria

the resources of towards island lost in the northern mists the British Empire and we have at least 40 but around us gather in brondevery reason to believe we shall ΤΟ EXAGGERATE divisions, including five armoured array all the nations of the Bri-be successful.

RISKS WE divisions, were massed on the tish Empire. ARE ALL GOING TO RUN AND scene.

"Now, from across the Atlantic. WHICH ARE BEING RUN, THAT "filer has told us it was

the might of the United States The first was about the war WE SHOULD HAVE CERTITUDE | crime in such circumstances for Republic proclaims itself on our vels which took Greek islands

us to go to the aid of the Greeks. side or at our side, or at any rate, # 1 catried German troops

don't want to enterneur our side. tonigh the Dardanelles. The

into arguments with experts Turks had no right to stop them.!

Laughter) but this is the kind Mr. Churchill then read the

of crime of which he is a good Article of the Convention

judge. ughter), dealing with the Straits and

House would not be entirely satis-

It was very natural that added, with reference to merchantmen, "I believe one of

fed with the recent turn of things them might have been used

in the Middle East and that some In the occupation of an island but The only way

in which thesembers should be acutely dis- there were other vcsscla in doubts can be removed, or these defend Greece successfully against appointed we had not been able to possession of the Germans and expectations discouraged, is by a #allang which could equally full debate followed by a division that we should have been unable the Italian and German armies or have been used for that "Government is entitled to ask to keep or extend our conquests

that such a vote shall express it- in unmistakable terms.

Mr. Churchill continued: "There are two points on which I can ISSUES AT STAKE, AND REAL- Yugoslavia, until Telieve his feelings and Y anxieties about Tur- THE FRIGHTFUL key.

"

purpose.

a

į

NOT

UPON THESE MATTERS.

Ings.

The Only Way

"In enemy countries there is the liveliest interest in our proceed = I tatter myself that high hopes are entertained that all will but go well with His Majesty's present advisers

present time.

"This is question of inter-self pation of the treaty and is a

lter for Turkey."

Not Helpful

Fir. Churchill

referred to

reark by Mr. Lloyd George

Mr.

al, tit the agreement between Turkey and Iraq, and said Lyd George was evidently Jeferring to Iran.

at the

"I should be the last to reject even unfair criticism or fair criticism, which Is 50 much more searching. but there kind of criticism which in little irritating.

Switch From Hedge

is a

а

|

"I

in Libya.

I watched

the

IS

Half A Million Men

orders at present nearly 500.000 "General Wavell hus under his

men. A continuous flow of equip- ment has been in progress from this country during

the last 10

"I do not to-day discuss the large and complicated questions of munitions or food. Probably months and now that Italian re- In secret session the Minister of sistance In Abyssinia, Africa and Supply will make a statement to the House. "THERE

ONE SIMPLE POINT ABOUT TANKS, WHICH MR. HORE-BELISHA IN HIS TIONED, FOR HE WAS HEAD SPEECH MIGHT HAVE MEN-

YEARS PRECEDING THE WAR. OF THE WAR OFFICE IN THE

"In the last war, tanks were built to go three or four miles an "For myself,

the hour and stand up to rifle fate of Greece after her valiant machine-gun bullets. In the inter- or repulse of the Italian Invader val, mechanical science advanced with agony.

so much that it is possible to make "The only relief I feel is that tanks to go up to 25 miles an everything in human power was hour and stand up to cannon fire. done by us and that our honour us

a nation is clear.

"If anything could add a pang

to these emotions it would be the l

The Same Path

even

Hitler-Profited

"It is a particular revolution

it has

been

for

the Somaliland is collapsing, a steady concentration northwards of all these forces is possible.

"Indeed. many weeks rapidly proceeding, and General Smuts had ordered the splendid South African Army (Cheers) forward to the Mediterranean shore.

"But the warfare of the West- ern Desert, or any of the deserts be conducted by which surround Egypt, can only small numbers of highly equip- comparatively ped troops.

"Employment in the desert of large numbers may only lead to disaster. That is what hap- pened to the Italians,

El Agheila

"A total of 180,000 along African soll and once the men lay "When a bystander sees a horse knowledge we had of the impend-by which Hitler has profited. It head of these forces was chopped "I am happy to be able to team dragging a heavy waggoning outrage with so little power was well known in military and off it was not physically possible reteve Mr. Lloyd George's ¦ uphill and cuts switch from a to avert from this heroic and fam-technical circles for years before for them to retreat. angiety. It appears that thehedge and belabours them, he may ous people a fate so hideous and the war. arragement is between Turkey well be animated by a benevolent undeserved."-British Wireless. all Persia and refutes to measures purpose and

benefit may result to strengthen the Turco-Persian, from his efforts to get the waggon burder, which we knew all about to the top. and which

Was prepared

"Looking back upon the course "But it would be a pity if this for some time and now is to be put debate consisted wholly of critical of events I can only feel, as the into force ns from April, 1941. and condemnatory

Prime Minister of New Zealand speeches "I do not think Mr. Lloyd because it would give a distorted so nobly declared, that if we had George's speech is particularly impression to important and in-again to tread that path, helpful in a period of what he terested foreign

with the knowledge we possess observers, who himself has called discourage are not well acquainted with our to-day, I for one would do the ment and disheartenment. parliamentary or political affairs. same thing again. (Cheers).

"But, "It is not the sort of speech Therefore I ask for a vote of con-

after all, military would have expected from [fidence. (Cheers).

operations must be judged by the Great War leader of former "This is a free Parliament and

the success which attends upon days who was accustomed

to a free country. We have

them rather than the sentiments brush aside despondency

which and ceeded in maintaining under un-

Inspire them,

though push onward to the distant goal, precedented difficulties and dan-

these may play their part "IT IS A SPEECH WITH gers. which in

the verdict of history and in some cases might WHICH I THINK THE ILLUS-be mortal, the whole process and

the survival of races. TRIOUS MARSHAL PETAIN reality of Parliamentary institu- the Italian dictator, by invading "It remains to be seen whether MIGHT WELL HAVE ENLIVEN- tions. (Cheers). ED THE DAYS OF REYNAUD'S

Greece, and the German dicta- CABINET. (LAUGHTER).

tor, in coming to his rescue,, and Replying to Mr. Lloyd George's involving Greece and Yugoslavia criticisms about the composition in a bloody welter, in fact have of the Government, Mr. Churchill a loss when the full story gained an advantage or suffered declared. the Government "works of easily and effectively at present

"I am grateful to him for one note he struck, namely that he made it clear we should close our debate by a vote of confidence.

Vote Of Confidence "Because of the kind of speech we have heard from him I think Government was right to put down a vote of confidences cause after our reverses and dis- appointments in the field they have a right to know where they stand with the Commons and where the Commons' stands with the country.

Honour Clear

ՏԱՐ -

which the military viewpoint.

"It did

not

spring from German but from British Ideas and others like General de Gaulie.

"The same thing, with import- It has been exploited aut modifications, may well have and turned to our grievous In- jury by the non-inventive but

happened to us when German armoured forces highly competent and imitative

defeated and Germans.

largely destroyed our single "FOR THE COMFORT OF MR. guarding the

armoured brigade which was HORE-BELISHA, LET ME TELL of the province of Cyrenaica,

advanced frontier HIM WE ARE MAKING EVERY MONTH NOW AS MANY TANKS WHAT

"I HAVE AN ACCOUNT OF

HAPPENED AT AS THERE EXISTED

EL IN THE AGHEILA. BRITISH ARMY AT THE TIME WERE TAKEN PRISONER BY THE GENERALS HE LEFT THE WAR OFFICE, TAKIng undue rISK IN PER- AND THAT WE SHALL, BE-SONAL MOVEMENTS. FORE THE END OF THIS YEAR, In

"Events are moving so fast and PRODUCING NEARLY DOUBLE THAT.

people have so much to do that THIS TAKES there is no time to dwell upon ACCOUNT OF THE the past, but certain broad fea- IMMENSE PRODUCTION OF

tures will surprise the House,, THE UNITED STATES.

BE

NO

further change. until further advised.-

of the things we are fighting for. "I am proud of this. It is one I cannot believe any man would this, war, is, complete, even from and I do not propose to make a bear the kind of burden falls upon Government to-day strong and convinced support of unless he were sustained by the the Commons and the nation.

No Source Of Strength:: "In addition to the whole Bal- Negative Principle

:

"The German armoured force was not much larger than our own. Technical mistakes and mischances occurred. With very little fighting our armourad forces became disorganised:

Tobruk Fortress.... "Other troops we had in Beng- hazi only amounted to a division, which by a rapid retreat gained gained a large garrison, and with Tobruk unmolested and there reinforcements, stands there at bay to-day

The only reller I feel is that kan people, a number of ancient everything in human power was and independent states which have the importance of my being sur

"Something has been said of

as a nation le clear. done by us and that our honour fallen under the Nazi yoke and rounded..by, people who would "MR. HORE-BELISHA AND force or intrigue, may by no no"

have to be held down by brute stand up to me and say No, no, SOME OTHERS HAVE SPOKEN means prove a source of strength.

"As we now know, the Ger- OF THE IMPORTANCE IN WAR to the German army.

"He has no idea how strong mans had no expectations of pro- OF FULL AND ACCURATE

the negative principle is "in the ceeding beyond. Agedabia. They "It is still more Important for INTELLIGENCE OF THE

"This vast machine is now constitution and working of meant to engage our armoured the sake of foreign nations, ENEMY'S MOVEMENTS AND

spread from the Arctia to the British war-making machinery troops, and create a diversion to especially nations balancing INTENTIONS.

Aegean and from the Atlantid : (Laughter). THAT IS ONE

prevent the despatch of reinforce their policy at the present time | OF THE GLIMPSES OF THE

to the Black 'Soa.. That is no The dimoulty is not to have ments to Greece, whilst bringing, and who should be left in no OBVIOUS IN WHICH HIS

source of strength.

more brake put on the wheel but over larger forces from Italy and daubt about the stability of this. SPEECH, ABOUNDED.

Turning from the military to to get more impetus and force Sicily, rogolved and obstinate War "As far as the German invasion more surely, dobar, the Germans "In the business of Libya and pricing supbees thay, accepted i

the political aspect nothing can behind it.

When they won their aur „Governmently denok

IT IS ESSENTIAL, CON- had long and, ample, forewarning new Europe, and one, will surely done to expert, military opinion

of the Balkans is concerned, we from establishing and shaping a Greece, no violence has been with 3 organised, caudacity and, SIDERING THE TREMENDOUS of what was in prospect.

pushed on

desart, tak emerge, than the fact that the All-decisions have been taken

(Continu