1950-11-24 — Page 8

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1950.

SCENES OF UPROAR IN COMMONS Mr Churchill Demands Suspension Of Arms For Egypt In Sharp Conflict With Mr

Herbert

Morrison

London, Nov. 23.

Mr Winston Churchill, the Opposition leader, ended a scene of uproar in the House of Commons today by warning the Government that he would hold a censure motion over its head unless Parliament had a debate before tanks were sent to Egypt.

:

The Conservative Opposition last night put down a censure motion regretting that the Government was unwilling to suspend the export of arms, including Centurion tanks, to Egypt while the 1936 Anglo-Egyptian Treaty was being challenged by the Egyptian Government.

Mr Churchill told the House today that he was prepared to withdraw his motion if the Government would endorse a statement made by Mr Ernest Davies, the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, last night.

go to Ernest

This was that no more tanks would Egypt until the Foreign Secretary, Mr Bevin, had concluded his talks next week with the Egyptian Foreign Minister.

Mr Churchill said that Mr Davies' statement implied that there would be a debate before tanks were sent. But Mr Her- bert Morrison, the Deputy Prime Minister, disputed

this saying that Mr Davies would not promise a debate.

Mr Morrison said that he did not rule out a debate but they must wait and see if it

was necessary after Mr Bevin had reported to Parliament.

This did not satisfy Mr. Churchill, who declared that his censure motion would stand and the Opposition would press for a debate, next week.

UPROAR STARTS The uproar started when Mr Churchill asked the Govern- ment to explain why it had changed its mind suddenly about sending the tanks.

Mr Morrison was inaudible at times amid interruptions from Mr Churchill as he tried to

answer.

next

The House of Commons will, in any case, have a two-day acbate on foreign affairs next week, it was announced today This is scheduled. for Wednesday and Thursday.

The debate will bring into the open the pressure by a considerable section of Government's followers new Big-Four talks on the in ternational deadlock.

Conservatives would try to ar- range a day next week to de- bate it.

we shall discuss the question of

whether we shall ask for a day

next week (for a debate)."

AN OPEN DOOR

member of the group of 30 and a former member of the

Mr Michael Foot, a leading

Labour National

Executive Committee, told Reuter that it was ridiculous to regard the motions as a revolt.

"We hope we are pressing on an open door," he said, claim-

ing that the motions did not conflict with Government policy.

Executive member, expressed a similar view, ridiculing the idea of a revolt or a split and de- claring that the pressure was to strengthen the Government's hand.

Mr Tom Driberg, National

Some signatories admitted The motion regrets that the that the motions reflected Government is "unwilling 10 anxiety, suspend

which they thought the export of armis, was shared by many people in including Centurion tanks, to the country. But none would Egypt, whether as previous contracts or otherwise,

a result of regard them as "rebellion." while

A number of the signatories the

Anglo Egyptian are worried because they think Treaty of 1936 is being chal- that on the question of lenged by the Egyptian Go- approaches to Russia Labour vernment."

may drag behind the Conserva- tives.

EXAGGERATIONS

new

Apart from Mr Churchill's repeated suggestions

the

on

Earlier, asked if the Govern- ment could say what were the subject, Viscount Salisbury, the new facts which made it Conservative leader in the change its policy between the House of- afternoon statement of the De-created

Lords, recently a marked impression fence Minister, Mr Emanuel on Parliamentary Shinwell, that tanks would go declaring that although Russia's circles by and the evening statement by present proposals for a Big- Mr Davies that they would not Four meeting for the

might be present, Mr Morrison unacceptable, said he thought Mr Churchill not be shut.-Reuter.

the door should

Was exaggerating these state- inents very much.

Churchill of

Mr Morrison accused Mr and appealed to him to urge his followers to give ment a hearing.

being provocative COSTS OF

the Govern-

Mr Churchill, addressing the Conservatives, said that it was more in the interest of the Op- the

that position

Mr Morrison should be fully heard than that he should be silenced.

for

a

MILITARY

ARMS SOAR

of America,"

Quite a fashion note was struck by Gloria Swanson when she left Waterloo station in London the other day on her way back to the United States. She is returning to England shortly to make a film. (Central Press)

Rumours Of Cabinet Split Persist

London, Nov. 23.

Conservative Members of Parliament are to probe the Health Minister, Mr Aneurin Bevan's... luncheon with American correspondents last week --which led to his denial of reports that he is op- posed to the Government's rearmament policy.

The Prime Minister, Mr whether the official denial Issued Clement Attlee, is likely to be by the Government three days questioned by the Opposition ago had his approval.-Reuter. on various aspects of the "Bevan incident," which is re-

ported to have seriously dis- UNAOČARE turbed political quarters in Washington,

The effect of American dis- patches from the correspon- dents who lunched with Mr Bevan was that the Labour Cabinet was split over rearma- ment and that Britain's would be scaled down.

arms

Q:ht

Hongkong Telegraph

Morning Post Building, Hongkong.

Published daily (Mid-Day) except Saturdays & Sundays.

NOTICE

Motions recently put forward

Mr Morrison then said that

Chicago, Nov, 23. by 70

Mr Shinwell had given an as- Labour Members of

The Secretary of Interior, Mr Parliament on this subject will surance yesterday that nothing Oscar Chapman, told the Con- not be before the House. But Davies had said that no tanks today

would happen overnight. Mrgress of Industrial Organisations that the cost of war the signatories to these motions would be shipped to Egypt until weapons

had soared since predominantly leftwing Mr Bevin had reported to the the outbreak of the Korean war group of 30 and a trade union House of Commons on group of 40-aim to press their talks.

the and he charged that profiteers threatened to create economic case in the discussion.

"To that undertaking I adhere instability through "unpatriotic"

Price. 20 cents por edition. The Foreign Secretary, Mron behalf of the Government," | price increases.

The British Government off-

Subscription: $5.00 per month. Ernest Bevin, will answer them. he added.

Postage: China, Macao, UK Bri- cially denied that there was

tish Possessions and other coun- The 70 Members, through pro- The question of a Parlia- Addressing the 12th National any change in her arms poli- tries $1.10 per month. minent spokesmen, deny that mentary debate on the subject | CIO Convention, My Chapman cy, including

News contributions, always wel- the suggestion come, should be addressed to the their pressure for new

four could be raised after Mr Bevin said the growing steel shortage that Mr Bevan, the War Minis- Editor, business communications and power talks is in any sense a

had made his statement.

was "endangering the country's ter, Mr John Strachey, and the advertisements to the Secretary. revolt against Mr Bevin,

DEBATE DISPUTE future" and blamed the "short-Supply Minister, Mr George Telephone: 20611 (5 Lines). There were shouts of "Order" Here Mr Churchill broke in sighted policies of a fow men" | Strauss, favoured an arma- } MASARUNG TANKREIZ ATTBETTER JANETUMISTUNNING KINGDON and "Sit Down”, as the duel be-again to say that Mr Davies had who have refused to ex and ments cut. tween Mr Churchill and Mr implied that the Government steel facilities because they But Morrison developed.

subsequent despatches would allow debate, Mr "lack confidence in the future from Washington indicated that Morrison disputed this.

the original story had left an un- At one point, when he was "If he accepts Mr Davies' state-

Eventually Mr Churchill said; Mr Chapman said at the end

favourable impression.. Follow- interrupted from the Govern-

of September that since the ing left-winger Mr Bevan's per- ment benches, Mr Churchill ment and endorses that state- Korean

sonal denlal last night, it was

Cable and Wireless Limited war price increases declared: "Do those who are ment, then it will probably not reacting on available gover-understood that the Government announce

that owing to laughing opposite realise that be necessary for us to ask for a ment these are matters which affect day, next week to discuss our had "wiped out" 750 out of 4,500 cident" which clearly caused and recent poor radio con-

military appropriations proposed to make no further

statement, but the "Bevan in- temporary cable interruptions motion, If. however, ho is F-86 planes, 110 out of every Ministers troops and affect a wide mat- diverging from it or mitigating,000 projectiles, 130 out of 1,000 mentis not closed.

serious embarrass-ditions, telegraph traffic be- ter of policy "on" défence?” it, then we must consider what rockets, 230 out of 1,000

Eventually Mr Morrison said our course must be." lie associated himself with Mr "I am not repudiating what Mr

To this Mr Morrison replied: bazookas and 2,300 out of 10,000

rifles. Davies' statement that no more Davies said. I do not think he

"These and many military tanks would be sent to Egypt said anything that was wrong.

items needed by our men in before Mr Bevin had ended his A statement will be made (by Korea were wiped out by price talks with the Egyptian Foreign Mr Bevin). There will be ex-

increases before they even had Minister.

changes across the floor and the a chance to reach our fighting Mr Churchill, appearing to House will consider it.". be still dissatisfied, said that Finally Mr Churchill said: "To

He added that leaders of the Opposition censure motion conclude this matter, our motion some industries, however, werb would not be withdrawn. The will remain on the paper and holding the line on prices and

POLICY ON DEFENCE

the lives and safety of

our

orces," he said,

Already tween Hong Kong and Europe one Conservative Member has given notice that he will ask the is likely to suffer abnormal Prime Minister on Monday delay.

He

stepping up production. said he hoped Inflation could be William Alick Grinham for and Printed and published by whipped with the minimum of on behalf of South China. restrictions were necessary they Wyndham controls but that if additional | Morning Post Limited at 1-3 Street, City of would be Imposed.--United Victoria, in the Colony of

Hongkong.

Press.