1940-05-08 — Page 17

Wednesday,

HONGKONG TELEGRAPH.

May 8, 1940.

FULL REPORT OF HOUSE OF COMMONS DEBATE

Pungent Criticism By

Criticism By Mr. Attlee

WEAK LEADERSHIP BY THE

GOVERNMENT BLAMED

LONDON, May 7 (Reuter), -Taking part in the House of Commons debate, Mr. C. R. Attlee, the Labour Opposition Leader, bogan by warmly paying tribute to the fighting forces, including the French and Norwe gians. He expressed sympathy with the people of Norway and also ex- pressed his admiration of the skill with which the difficult evacuation was carried out.

"We had an experience of it in│ the last war and it was rendered, fur | more dimeuk by the air arm. It was a Wonderful feal of arms, but after all is retirement.

Over-Optimistic

"The Prime Minister's speceli on Thursday was over-optimistic and over-complacent. Mr. Churchill's speech was far too optimistic. It is no use the Prime Minister telling us not to come to hasty conclusions. There are some very busty con elusions in those sprechen.

"The Prime Minister asked us to suspend judgment. I think it is very difficult, in the light of events, to say that this campaign has been to our advantage as the Premier said on

Thursday, To-day the Prime Minis- ter struck a different pote-a good dral more of excuse and explanation. "No-une wishen give the handle to the enemy, but we have a service and a duly to the matlon to examine the events that have occurred. We have to face facts We are not afraid to face facts.

Extraordinarily III-Advised

intelligence service in Norway?

Prime Minlater said. Despite the "It is unbelievable that in Nor-lessons in Poland and Finland, they and Denmark, there could do not seem to have realised the vital way have been these elaborate pre-importance of protection from the parations which had gone on for air. Unless you could secure that, so many months without anything evacuation was certain. being known of them,"

can

"I ask whether action was taken Plan Known For Years In time. The Germans landed at Mr. Altice wanted to know Trondheim and it was ten days after whether we got any intelligence and the war before we landed at Namsos whether such intelligence as we gut and Andalsnes. The question is how was properly used. "I have been far had the Government gone in told that the detalled plans for the making plans, and it does not alter seizure of Norway by the German the fact that the campaign in southern General Staff had been known to us Norway has been a fallure. It is no start know good suggesting that you whether we were working out what again and come down from Narvik. could have been done to counter This is terribly difficult business.

Churchill More Optimistic those plans,

The quesiton which strikes me "There was also the stopping of immediately is the vital matter of reinforcements. We could not stop buses. The first condition should reinforcement from the alr, but we have been that bases should be certainly got a more optimistic note

Kafe

and of what the feet could do from Mr. reasonably water. Surely the time factor was Churchill.

many yours.

want to

from

air

ull landed only a few of

The

one

of

country provided they are sure that they are getting the right leadership (Opposition Cheers).

The Government will be blind and deat if they do not realise that there is widespread anxiety among the people of ills country--people of all kinds of views and all kints of thoughts--that they are not satlafled that the war 15 Lielne waged with sudielent energy, Inten- nity, drive and resolution (Hear! Bear!)

Carcor Of Failure

It is not Norway alone. Norway comes as culmination of many other discontents. People are saying that those mainly responsible for the conduct of affairs have had us almost uninterrupted career sofathe (Op- position Cheers), in Norway, Czech-

and Poland.

re the story

about

The

missing

In "Too Prime Minister talks buses. The Govern- ment have missed a number of bikes since 1931; they missed all the pence buses and caught the war

The war bus. people found these men consistently

Wrong in their

surne

HI

Judgments. The people who thought Hitler would not attack Czecho-Slovakin, who thought Hitler could be appear- ed, seemed not to have realised that

MR. C. R. ATTLEE

platform.

Norway. It is wrong in principletter would attuck and could only be Justified by "There seems everywhere failure success, and it has not. had tnt to drive not only in the field of SUCCESS."

defence and foreign polley but in Mr. Attlee declared: "Frankly I do England too.

too. They are not organis- not think it fair to put Mr. Churchilling the country's resources. We the have had eight months in which these "In considering the inception in the position of presiding at

the expedition,

Admiralty and being Chairman of the things ought to have been done. We the

Chicls of Staff. That is the man in are not getting organisation of food could troops at selected places, but if they vital factors was how far

in the absence of be successful were given time, it was clear that you

charge of major strategy and should or men power in prevent-

particular effeèlive leadership. This is having they could bring up reinforcements ing reinforcements. There was not also be in command of

intelligence which would make a landing very adequate

and here unit. there

a repercussion on national morale.

The Promior's Weakness was not the necessary concentra- asking whether at any time there was not delay and discussion when ucilon was necessary.

Not Satisfied

"High hopes had been raised in die vital thing was to oblain an tion un essential objectives. I amni

1 think they.

the speeches of Ministers, in the press and over the wireless. I think it air base. This was a risky opera- extraordinarily -advised that people tion, but risks had to be taken. I should have had their spirits raised by want to know whether the Govern- accounts which encouraged them toment had a scitind plan or whether imagine that everything was going they acted hurriedly,

well wonderfully

Narvik Secondary should have been given more guidance. "Narvik is really secondary. "We are paying the penalty be- Stavanger or Trondheim were the cause after the great expectations. real points of importance. It does there is naturally disappointment. •not seem that the Government "We realise that we must bear realised the importance of the air' mind the requirements of strategy, but this was never intended weapon until after the event.

larger

a mere tip-and-run expedition. The general view was given that Germany kad at last put his head out to be hit and that there was a chance here of the campaign upen- Ing out. Hence there is widespread

lisappointmerit,

No Initiative Or Planning "it is and that in, this war there has never been Initiative from

our side and rent planning in untleigh- tion of possible strokes against 15. The Government had the blocking the Narvik route with mines..

Idea

"I was disturbed by what the

Not Fair To Churchill

A lending article in the "Times" “Mr. Churchill has had very great difficulties and it is not fair. to put says that the Prime Minister's weak- ness las been his devotion to him in an impossible position.

colleagues who are either failures Mr. Attlee continued: "Our friends or in need of a rest. In a life have been disheartened. We have

and death struggle we cannot afford. "I am not by any means sata-hud n reverse, but we have had re- lied despite all

to have our destinies in the hands that the Prime verses before and none of us is in the of failures or people needing a rest Minister has said that the present slightest degree shaken in his faith (Opposition Cheers). I am not sure War Cabinet is an efflelent instru- that we are going to win the war of the Prime Minister's weakness; I ment for conducting the war (Hear! Cheers). When we have reverthink it is a particular weakness of Hear!) It has been criticised in the essential thing is that we should

of the Government this House aver and over again, tearn from them (Cheers). I have no members benches," It has been criticised by men of doubt whatever of the courage und wide experience in the Press and constancy of all the people in this

We Have Been Economically &

Diplomatically Weakened

Sir Archibald Sinclair, Leader

It must have been apparent that there of the Liberal Opposition, after was the greatest possibility of a hit associating himself with the back by Germany."

question tributes to the courage and will

Mr. Attlee said the frst

planned this expedition with... very

was "What provision was made for of the Allied fighting forces in that contingency?" The Prime Minis- Norway, said that he Was ΠΟΥ fer had said that Germany had surprised that the Chiefs of great care over a long period, What Staffs had felt some anxiety- care was exercised in the planning of about what might be said in the the Allies for defeating that stroke, course of the debate. If it should come?

"I Want To Know ---' "We were informed in Murch that we had a force of 100,000 men ready

the

He, however, was sorry that Mr. Chamberlain and mentioned. matter because their debales must be absolutely free and there must be no

to go to Finland. We were assured suggestion at all either from outside, that these troops were fully pre- from military officers, or from any pared. If they were fully prepared other direction of hints or advice as in every way, we want to know what to how they were being conducted. happened to them. If they were

not, they may have escaped a serious disaster in Finland."

H

A Suggestion

"I am not at all sure that if we

heim,

La

Mr. Attlee, in conclu: on, sold that members of the Government benches had seen failure. after failure only shifted along those benches. They have been content week after week with Ministers whom they know to be failures, They

allowed loyalty to the Chief. Whip to over- to the real needs

Fit

come their 103 Opposition ChewŃ).

of the country The House Commons must take its fulf

responsiblity. There is

-SIR ARCHIBALD SINCLAIR widespread feeling in the

SIR A. SINCLAIR

Government

Department and in every field of policy.

Is a country. not that we shall lose this war-we shalt win this war-but to win this

Sir Archibald claimed that British War we want different people at the forces ought to have becu ready and helm from those who led us into it

(Cheers). practising as the Germans were for the Norwegian operations.

Another Gateway Closed

Sir Archibald Sinclair added that now that the Germans, are secure in Trondheim, Britain's best gateways Into Sweden are closed. "If the occupation of Trondheim was not feasible, this Norwegian expedition

A DAMNED INSULT

ought never to have been under- Admiral M. P. Refutes taken. If it was a feasible opera-|

been tion, then it ought to have undertaken with ruthless determino-

tion.

"Ran Away" Story

Admiral Sir Roger Keyes, "The Germans may have sacrl who was in uniform, was loud- fleed a third of their fleet. That ly cheered when he rose to speak. ffect helped to win the campaign.) He described the suggestion that which is

more than the Kaiser's the British Navy had "run away" to flect ever succeeded in doing. Alexandria as "a damned insult." "The Prime

Minister has condemn This remark was greeted with ed the Germans for

the Ger

in bringing re of life laughter in which he Joined in.

A wise Ile declared that it was the

not general does not throw away the fault of the Navy that the Ges

German lives of his troops without regard to warships

and transports were Not but 10,000 followed into Norwegian ports

and

the objects to be ed es-destroyed as they were at Narvik.

were Kuns

ng

Mr. Aitlee continued: "What wished to indulge in a 'tu quoque' cannot understand is the rapid dis which is the last thing in which I troops at the time desire to indulge, we might not say persal of all these when that was done. The Finnish

that it would be a good thing if the would keep in war ended in March and the Goy Ministers themselves

the ernment decided some time for their own hands contacts with ifter that to lay mines off Norway on Press, and that it would be better it

must surely be an April 8. I should have thought that contacts with the Press were

all

timate of the German losses in the In his opinion, which was support- in the event of having that in niin carried out by a Minister, and if

Skagerrak, and it is not n great ed by authoritative Norwegian in- they

ey would have kept in being this statements made on behalf of the

sacrifice to pay for victorious formation, the naval hazards of an nt- force in case of a German counter-Government were made by Ministers

and not by professional Staff Officers. Denmark, Sweden and all the Baltic modern battle, let alone a campaign. tack on Trondheim would have been stroke."

“I do not wish to criticise any

countries.

"The Germans pushed resolutely triffing compared with those over- Mr. Attlee said that he gathered

"The Baltic is sealed to us. We through to Osio while we hesitated come in other operations which he that some troops were kept together.nore than Mr. Attlee has criticised

must not forget the 570,000 tons of

outside Trondheim."

had organised and led. (Cheers) He wanted to know whether these the Government decision to evacuate

iron ore which we imported from Norway when they were advised by troops were adequate and whether the Chiefs that it was impossible to

Wrong Troops Sent

Wanted Vigorous Action Narvik and which is in the meantime

Sir Archibald the necessary equipment was there, carry

Mr. supported

Since April 16 he had been urging -and must, I am afraid, for some Attlee's EL successful conclusion

contention that seasoned the Admiralty to take a more vigorous the necessary aircraft and the ships operations for the capture of Trend-

time to come-cut olk. necessary to take them. He wanted

troops and not territorials should action In Norway and to let him take "Let us be clear that when we do

have been to know whether they were the right

sent to Narway and all the responsibility for organising take Narvik we shall find the Ger- severely criticised the Government and leading an attack. Abundantly Right kind of tron

been in- in- froops. He had

Alans to have destroyed everything of for not supplying white coast snow- "It seems to me in those circum-

He was told that there was no diff- formed that we had a body of troops,

value in the place." Government Was

shoes to the men. trained men who could ski, ready stances that the

At one place, two cully in going into Trondheim Fjerd Diplomatic Weakness

anti-aircraft He was abundantly right to set on the advice

landed. but it was not considered necessary for the Finnish campaign. told that they were dispersed and criticism and examination might be

of their miliary advisors. Our "Diplomatically our position is They had an unsuitable type of as the army was making good pro-

weakened in every country in the mounting. They had 10

gress and the situation in the Medl- trained put on other kinds of jobs.

directed to the question why we over

world. The complacent und Il- Cannot Send Young Lads

men to work the guns and no range terranean made it undesirable to risk got ourselves into a a position in which founded boastings of the Ministers axies, and they were utterly use the ships Why was that so in view of the we had to accept defeat in Norway.

He had suggested that old ships contrast fully with the hard swift less. possiblity of a campaign in Norway?

not a major mill- is, however, not a

blows of the German forces, for in People are asking whether these are tary disaster. Nothing has happened

One transport had no chronometer might have been used. The loss of

have affected the i war is only results which count. or barometer or International code them would not the troops who ought to have been to shake our confidence in the courage "Another serious loss we have suf- book. It had no arms, not even a strength of the fleet. sent there.

have heard stories and efficiency of our fighting forces fered is the blow to the credit of our rifle, and the food aboard was for

Amory's Demand about young

boys

with

very little jand to weaken our resolve to win the press and B.B.C. The Prime Minis-less than half the men. training being sent.

ler blumes Stockholm reports for but something has happened war,

She carried a small, party "In a country Ilke Norway, with which does suggest that more fore-

their

colour. I agree the rigours of its ellinate, you don't sight, energy and

that wounded soldiers, but there was no rosy 1 stronger and more Stockholm reports were the worst medical attention, want to send young boys but older ruthless will to victory is required sources of the misleading news to the Will Give Name Privately and

experienced men.

in the supervising of our war efforts,

public, bu

but bitter complaints have "We hind

Replying to an interjection by Mr. theBut if the military consequences of been made to me by British Journa-Churchill, Sir Archibald Sinclair said Dardanetics of young Inds being sent our defeat in Norway are not com Ilsts, by representatives of Empire he would inform the First Lord of out in great heat and they didn't lost parable to those suffered in the inst newspapers and by foreign the name of the ship, privately. long. It is seasoned men who are war

then they are sufficiently journalists about the misleading

He hoped no one would suffer be- unpleasant. I shal not exaggerate, character of some of the official cause of having communicated this We would not go on as we were,

communiques.

communication.

There must be a change (Loud chicers Conelading Sir Archibald deal from the Opposition). with Sweden and sold that an

The next blow, he continued, might nalum to Sweden in the next fall any moment. It might be Hol- ultimatum week or two would not be surpris- land, It might be the Mediterranean. Ing. Now that Sweden was sur We must have a supreme war direc rounded, ho asked whether Britain tion. We must have a proper War could help her to resist an invasion Cabinet similar to Mr. Lloyd George's from Germany.

Cabinet in the 'Great War.

wanted."

experience in

Intelligence Service Break-Down but we must face facts and not dig

Referring to the Germans anti-four heads into the sand. elpating any action we might have "Carualiter were not negligible. taken in the laying of mines by in- The loss of material was not negli vading Norway, Mr. Attlee asked Bible elther. We lost numbers or what Information had we through which our prospective supply for some "We are timo altead is insumolent for our our intelligence service.

UK L sold that we knew that there were needs troops and

ships practising dis- More Serious Consoquencos embarkation and that there were "Other consequences, however, are four or five different places to which much more porious. Tho. Primo they might go. I have no doubt that Minister: "did not touch on "the obtaining Intelligence in Germany is economic aspect of them. We have very dimeult, but surely we have an lost all our supplies from Norway,

Prosimon Misled.

"The Idea was given that the landing of troops was a tremendous achievement and there was a, gen- eral air of optimism created that all was going well.

"This gave" these Pressmen a misleading

Long Bea Thu Qio altua

of

Mr. L. S. Amery said that the whole conduct of the war up to now had called for searching laquiry. (Cheers), He said that there were no loyal- tley to-day except that to the common cause. (Cheers from all parts of the House).

There was no doubt that during the past eight months the gap between

the German forces and ours, he said,

had widened.

Time is not always on our side. The time had come when the Op- The root cause is that our war Hitler has taken an old man by the position must definitely take their effort is not being sustained and beard on this occasion, We must stinre of the responsiblilty and a real there is no thrust forward with ruth-show equnt awitiness and vigour in national government could be form- less war-minded energy in every delion if we are to win the war.” ed.

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