1940-05-08 — Page 27

Wednesday,

HONGKONG TELEGRAPH

May 8, 1940.

FULL REPORT OF HOUSE OF COMMONS DEBATE

Pungent Criticism By Mr. Attlee

WEAK LEADERSHIP BY

GOVERNMENT

THE

BLAMED

LONDON, May 7 (Reuter)-Taking part in the House of Commons debate, Mr. C. R. Attlee, the Labour Opposition Leader, began 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

intelligence service in Norway! carried out.

"We had an experience of it in the last war and it was rendered for more difficult by the air arm. It was a wonderful feat of arms, but after all it is retirement,

Over-Optimistic

"The Prime Minister's speech on Thursday was over-optimistic and over-complacent,

Mr.

Churchill' speech was for too optimistic. It is to use the Prime Minister telling us not to came to hasty conclusions. There are SUMI very hasty con- clusions in those peeches.

"The Prime Minister asked us to I think it is very suspend Judgment. difficult, in the light of events, to say that this campaign has been to our advantage as the Premier sald on Thursday. To-day the Prime Minis- ter struck a different note-a good deal more of excuse and explanation. "No-one wishes to give The handle to the enemy, but we have a service and a duty to the nation to examine the events that have occurred. We have to face facts We are not afraid to face facts.

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

years.

want to

that

the

that,

nt

MR. C. R. ATTLEE platform. It is wrong in principle and could only be Justified br thai success, and it has not had success,"

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

"The Government will be blind and deaf If they do not realise that there is widespread anxfety among the people of this counjry-people of all kids of views and all kinds of thoughts-that they Bro not aatisfied that the war is being waged with sumclent cuergy, haten- sity, drive and resolution (Hear! Hear!)

Career Of Failure

It is not Norway alone. Norway comes as a culmination of nony other discontents. People are saying that those inainly responsible for the conduct of affatra have had an almost uninterrupted career of failure (Op- position Cheers), in Norway, Czech- Slovakia and Poland. Everywhere the

story is

"TOD

talks

The Prime Minister about missing buses. The Govern ment have missed a number of buses since 1931; they missed all the peace

мера caught the

and

found

wor

bus. The these men consistently

Wrong in their Judgments. The who thought Hitler sume people

Czecho-Slovakia, would not attack who thought Hitler could be appeas ed, seemed not to have realised that Hitler would attack Norway.

"There seeins everywhere Initure to drive not only in the field of defence and foreign policy but in Mr. Attlee declared: "Frankly I do England too. They are not organis- not think it fair to put Mr. Churchilling the country's

"I ask whether action was taken

landed Plan Known For Years In time. The Germans

Trondheim and it ten

WRS days after know Mr.

to Attlee, wanted whether we got any intelligence and the war before we landed at Namsos whether such intelligence as we got and Andalsnes. The question is how Government gone in was properly used.

"I have been for had the old that the detailed plans for the making plans, and it does not alter seizure of Norway by the German the fact that the campaign in southern Generni Staff had been known to us Norway has been a fallure. It is no

good suggesting

can start know

you many whether we were working out what gain and come down from Narvik, could have

This is a terribly difficult business. been done to counter those plans.

Churchill More Optimistic "The question which strikes me "There was also the stopping of immediately is the vital matter of reinforcements. We could not stop banen. The first condition should reinforcement from the air, but we have been that bases should be certainly got a more optimistle note reasonably safe from air and of what the fleet could do from Mr. water. Surely the time factor was Churchill.

in the position of presiding at the bave had eight months in which these considering the all. Important?

Inception

the Admiralty and being Chairman of the things ought to have been done. the expedition, one of "The Germans landed only a few of

in the absence of factors was how far could Chiefs of Staff. That is the man in are not getting organisation of food

charge of major strategy and should or men power troops at selected places, but if they vital were given time, it was clear that you

prevent- successful they could bring up reinforcements ing reinforcements. There was not also be in command of a particular effective leadership. This is having

and Intelligence

there unit. Extraordinarily, Ilt-Advised

which would make a landing very adequate

was not lie necessary concentra- "High hopes had been raised in difficult. the speeches of Ministers, in the press "The vital thing was to obtain an tion on essential objectives, 1

think it air base. This was a risky opera- asking whether at any time there was and over the wireless. I extraordinarily ill-advised that people lion, but risks had to be taken. I not delay and discussion when action should have had their spirits raised by want to know whether the Govern was necessary.

Not Satisfied accounts which encouraged them to ment had a settled plan or whether kmagine that everything was going they acted hurriedly. wonderfully

x well. I think they

Narvik Secondary

tore guidance. "Narvik Is really secondary, be- Stavanger or Trondheim were The

hould have been given 1ctations, real points of importance. It

does Government

"We are paying the cause after the great there is naturally disappointment,

(not seein that the "We realise that we must bear in realised the importance of the air mind the requirements of larger weapon until after the event. strategy, but this was never intended| to be a mere tip-and-run expedition. The general view was given that Germans had at last put his head out to be bit and that there was a eliance bere of the campaign open- Hence there is widespread

ing out.

disappointment,

No Initiative Or Planning "It is sad that in this war there

has never been initiative from

our

skle and no real plunging in anticipa- tion of possible strokes against us.

Idea The Government had the blocking the Narvik route with mines.!

was disturbed, by what the

be

in

am

Not Fair To Churchill "Mr. Churchill has had very great dificulties and it is not fair to put him in an Impossible position.

Mr. Attlee continued: "Our friends have been disheartened. We have "I am not by any means satis diad a reverse, but we have had re- fied despite all that the Prime verses before and none of us is in the Minister has said that the present slightest degree shaken in his faith War Cabinet is an efficient instru- that we are going to win the war ment for conducting the war (Hear! | (Cheera). When we have reverses, Hear!) It has been criticised in the essential thing is that we should this House over and over again. learn from them (Cheers), I have no It has been criticised by men of doubt whatever of the courage and this wide experience in the Press and constancy of all the people in

We Have Been

Economically &

Diplomatically Weakened

Sir Archibald Sinclair, Leader

must have been apparent that there of the Liberal 'Opposition, after the was the greatest possibility of

hit!

associating himself with back by Germany."

not

Mr.Attler said the first question (tributes to the courage and will was "What provision was made for of the Allied fighting-forces-in- that contingeney?" The Prime Minis-Norway, said that he was ter had said that Germany had planned this expedition with very 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 -"

He, however, was sorry that Mr. Chamberlain had mentioned

the "We were informed in March that matter because their debates must be we hud force of 100,000 men ready absolutely free and there must be no to go to Fintout. 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.

A Suggestion

not, they may have

disaster in Finland."

they were escaped a serious!

" am not at all sure that I we wished to indulge in a 'tu quaque' Mr. Attlee continued: "What cannot understand is the rapid dis which is the last thing in which I persul of all these troops at the time desire to indulge, we might not say when that was done. The Finnish that it would be a good thing if the Ministers themselves would keep in the

war ended in March and the Gov-their own hands contucts with

mines of Norway that to lay

on

ernment decided some time after Press, and that it would be batter II April 8. I should have thought that all contacts with the Press were in the event of having that in mix cattled out by a Minister, and I they would have kept in being this statements made on behalf of the

Government ense of a German counter-

fores

"

stroke."

Mr. Attlee said that he gathered that some troops were kept together.

SIR A. SINCLAIR

countries.

-SIR ARCHIBALD SINCLAIR

made by

by Ministers and not by professional Staff Officers. Denmark, Sweden and all the Baltic

"I do not wish to

to criticise any

"The Baltic is scaled to us, We Mr. Attlee has criticised more than

must not forget the 570,000 tons of the Government declaion to evacunte

iron ore which we Imported from Narvik and which is in the meantime whether the Chiefs that it was impossible to

He wanted to know whether these Norway when they were advised by troops were adequate and

the necessary equipment was there, carry to

successful conclusion

the necessary aircraft and the ships operations for the capture of Trend-

take them. He wanted

necessary to

to know whether they were the right helm.

10

kind of troops. He had been in formed that we had a body of troops,

Abundantly Right

time to come-cut off.

Government Department and every fleld of policy."

has

resources,

We

We

to

a reperevasion on national morale.

The Premier's Weakness A leading article in the "Times" says that the Prime Minister's wenk- ness

been his devotion

fallures colleagues who are either or ln need of a rest. In a life and death struggle we cannot afford to have our destinies in the hands rest of failures or people needing a (Opposition Cheers). I am not sure of the Prime Minister's weakness; 1. think it is a particular weakness of of the Government members benches."

U

Ministers who

whom they know

had

Mr. Attlee, in conciusion, sak that members of the Government benches had seen fallure after failure only shifted along those benches. They have been content week after week to WILL

fullures.

allowed loyalty to the Chief Whip to over- come their loyalty to the real needs of the country (Opposition Cheers). take The House of Communs must widespread feeling in the country, its full responsiblity. There is a not that we shall lose this war-we in shall win this war-but to win this war we wont different people at the

Sir Archibald elnimed that British helm from those who led us into It forces ought to have been ready and (Cheers).

practising as the Germans were for the-Norwegian.operations.

Another Gateway Closed

Si: Archibald Sinclair added that now that the Germans are secure in

Britain's besL'

Trenden are closed.

Into

occupation of Trondheim

was

the not

fensible, this Norwegian expedition to have been under- ought never talten. If it was a feasible opera- tion, then, it ought to have been] undertaken with ruthless determina-

tion.

A DAMNED INSULT

Admiral M. P. Refutes “Ran Away” Story

Admiral Sir Roger Keyes,

"The Germans may have sacri- who was in uniform, was loud- ficed a third of their fleet. That ly cheered when he rose to speak. flect 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 sverreded in doing. Alexandria as "a damned insult."

remark

greeted with "The Prime Minister has condemn This

ed the Germans for disregard of life laughter in which he joined in.

in bringing reinforcements. A wise general does not throw.

He declared that it was not the way the fault of the Navy that the German not

lives of his troops without regard to

into Norwegian ports and must surely be an exaggerated es-destroyed as they were at Narvik.

. losses timate of the German

In his opinion, which was support- in the Skagerrak, and it is not a great ed by authoritative Norwegian in- sacrifice to

victorious formation, the naval hazards of an at- pay for modern battle, let alone a campaign. tack on Trondheim would have been "The Germans pushed resolutely trifling compared with those over- through to Oslo while we hesitated come in other operations which he

had organised and led. (Cheers) outside Trondheim."

Wanted Vigorous Action Wrong Troops Sent

Since April 16 he had been urging Archibald supported Mr.

seasoned the Admiralty to take a more vigorous contention that

territorials should action in Norway and to let him take troops and not

all the responsibility for organking have been sent to Norway

and leading an attack. A severely criticised the Government for not supplying white const snowculty in going into Trondheim Fjord shoes to the men. At one place, two anti-aircraft

guns were

the objects to be achtend, but 10,000 and transports were

Sir Attlee's

and

He was told that there was no dim-

and must, I am afraid, for some

"Let us be clear that when we do lake Narvik we shall find the Ger- "It seems to me in those circum-mans to have destroyed everything of

value in the place. Government was

Diplomatic Weakness

landed, but it was not, considered necessary trained men who could sk!, ready stances that tho for the Finnish campaign. He was abundantly right to act on the advice

advisers, Our "Diplomatically our position is They had an unsuitable type of as the army was making good pro- trained gress and the situation in the Medi- told that they were dispersed and of their milliary

wenkened in every erillclm and examination michi bo

country in the mounting. They had no put on other kinds of jobs.

world. The complacent nad directed to the question why we over

ill-men to work the, guns and no range terranean made it undesirable to risk

the ships. Cannot Send Young Lads

got ourselves into a position in which founded boastings of the Ministers axles, and they were utterly use- He had suggested that old ships Why was that so in view of the

Jad

might have been used. The loss of to

contrast fully with the hard swift less. accept defeat in Norway.

blows of the German forces, for in possibility of a campaign in Norway? "It is, however, not a mafor

One transport had no chronometer them would not have affected the i People are asking whether these are tary disaster. Nothing has happened

war it is only results which count. or barometer or International code strength of the fleet. 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

Amory'a Domand sent there. have heard stories and emelency of our fighting forces fered is the blow to the credit of our rifle, and the food aboard was for

Mr. L. S. Amery said that the whole about young boys with very little and to weaken our resolve to win the press- and B.B.C. The Prime Minis- less than half the men.

She carried a small party of conduct of the war up to now had training being sent.

ter blames Stockholm reports for war but something has happened In a country like Norway, with which does suggest that more fore-

their rosy

colour. I agree, that wounded soldiers, but there was no called for searching inquiry. (Cheers). le and that there were no loyal-. rigours of its climate, you don't

Stockholm reports were the worst medical attention.

tles to-day except that to the common Want to Kor

young boys but older sight, energy and a stronger and more

ruthless will to victory is required sources of the nisteuding news to the Will Civo Name Privately

cause. (Cheers from all parts of the and experienced men.

Replying to an interjection by Mr. House), public, but bitter complaints have been made to me by British fouenn Churchill, Sir Archibald Sinclair said There was no doubt that during the lists, by representatives of Empire he would inform the First Lord of past eight months the gap between newspapers and by foreign the name of the ship, privately, the German forees and ours, he said, Journalists about misleading He hoped no one would suffer he had widened.

Wo would not go on as we were. character of some of the official cause of having communicated this

communtention

There must be a change (Loud cheers communiques.

*Concluding Sir Archibald dralt from the Opposition).

The next The lies was given that the with Sweden and said that na

blow ho continued, might ulitmatum to Sweden in the next fall any moment. It might be Hof- landing of troops was a tremendous achievement and, there was a gen-week or two would not be surpris- land, it might be the Mediterranean. fax. Now that Sweden was sur- We must have a supreme war, direc- eral air. of optimism created that all was going well.

rounded, he asked whether Brilain 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.

the

Rend

in the supervising of our war ciforts. "We hand experience the But if the military consequencca of Dardanelles of young lads being sent our defest in Norway are not com oul in great heat and they didn't last parable to those suffered in the last

then long. It is seasoned inen who are war,

they are suficiently wanted."

unpleasant. I shall not exaggerate, Intelligence Service Broak-Down but we must face facts and not dig

Referring to the Germans anti-lour heads into the sand. cipating may action we might have "Carualfles were not negligible. taken in the laying of mines by in-The loss of material was not negil- vading Norway, Mr. Attlee asked rible either. We lost numbers of what Information had we through which our prospective supply for some

"We are time ahead is Jurullolent for our intelligence service.

our

told that we knew that there were nerda. troops and ships practising dis Mero Sarious Consequences embarkation and that there were "Other consequences, however, are four or five different places to which much more

The Prime they might go. I have no doubt that Minister did not touch on obtaining intelligence in Germany-is economie-aspect of them. We have very difficult, but surely we have an lost all our supplies from Norway,

Marlous.

the

the

Pressman Misted

"This gave these Fressen

leading Mea. Thus the flun-

_sion."

"Time is not always on our sido. 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 share of the responsibility and a real there is no thrust forward with ruth-show equal swiftness and vigour in national government could be form-

ed. less war-minded energy in every action if we are to win the war.

AQUASCUTUM RAINCOATS

Are well-cut, light to carry and will keep you dry in the rain. Both the coat and the lining are proofed Poplin.

Stocked in two good colours and styles, with or without belt.

$75.00 cach

Less 10% Cash Discount

OTHER QUALITIES from $23.50

MACKINTOSH'S

Ltd.

MEN'S WEAR

SPECIALISTS

THIS NEW CUTEX

Salon Nail Polish

Will Wear Longer

Than any Polish You've Ever Worn

CUTEX

• We can make this amaz- ing statement because the new Cutex Salon Polish is based on an entirely new principle. By actual test, it wears days longer without chipping or peeling. After you have worn it you will understand why more women use Cutex than any other polish.

Cuter gives you better nail ropes too. Ask to see the whole smart range ofshades from the favourites like Cameo, Cedarwood Clover," Tulip to the exciting new Hijinks and Gadabout.

CUTEX Salon Polish

"Here dolly, it's good! Mama gives me Castoria

when I'm upset too!"

CASTORIA

Economical, 13 doses or more

In each bottle. Use as needed.

This little lady has a wise mother, Wise because whenever she needs a laxative mother gives her one who loves to take – Costoria,

Castoria is made especially for children-oven to the taste. And Castoria is safe. There isn't a harmful ingredient in it. It contains no harsh, purging drugs-won't cause, griping pains. It works gently, blandly- yet very thoroughly.

Mother-depend upon Castoria for your chil dren as do 5,000,000 uther mothers the world over, Get a bottle today.

CASTORIA

{Medicinal Zyrusi

THE LAXATIVE FOR CHILDREN

Give Castoria at the first sign of a cold, an upset stomach or constipation.