Mr. G. E. Mitchell (B. & S.) Addresses Eh 1a Committee of Members of Parliament By 0. a "North-Chine. Dai News & Herald," 1911-1930)
London, Dec. 22.
Nobody really wanted' the debate fon foreign affairs yesterday; it Is doubtful whether even. the Labour Party who demanded it were not. acting more through duly than do-sire, Here is the point. If the attitude of Great Britain and specially America is growing stiffer towards Japan, as indeed is the general impression, then the less said in public debate the better. So the Prime Minister and Mr. Eden took up rear deal of time saying nothing, and the debate had to be cut to about five hours, and other front-benchers wanted to spend time in saying nothing, there was no time for the Lack-benchers, some of whom could have made useful contributions, to say anything, Also the five hours had to include not only China. but Ttalian anti-British propaganda, the League, Spain, the Halifax-Hitler conversations and anything else that, came into the minds of honourable members.
'One brilliant speech was that of Sir Archibald Sinclair, the Gradsonjon Liberal leader, He scored neat. ly off Mr. Duff-Cooper, "First Lord of the Admiralty, who speaking recently in Pimlico, had declared that "any country' which underrates the strength of the British Navy will be making a mistake which may prove fatal to their happiness." This reminded Sir Archibald of King Lear:
3 sare, of Teno not—but go, suet things The terrors of he earth. which the House roared. Nobody minds seeing Mr. Dulf-Cooper scored off. Unfortunately it was the strength or weakness of the British Navy (and Army and Air Force) perpetually reduced by "gestures" in defiance of facts, which tied our hands and effectually answered Sit Archibald Sinclair's attacks on our loisser "faire policy.
But in, this respect' there is a turn for the better since we began to build up our defences again.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.