(Continued from page 1) garrison of Habbaniyah inflicted over 1,00¢ "casualties on the Iraqi attackers"
Mr. Churchill opened with a reference to Mr, Lloyd George's speech.—"It there were any speech in the debate which was not particularly exhilarating, it was the speech of Mr. Lloyd George, who honoured us boy one of his always deeply important and much valued appearances in the House."
"Mir, Lloyd George had complained because Mr. Eden did not refer to Spain. Russia, Vichy and Turkey.—"Well," said Mr. Churchill, "this is not a debate dri foreign policy as a whole and the speech of the Foreign Secretary must not only be judged by what he said. Its merits must also be judged by what he did not say.
"dt he did not refer to Spain, it was not because we have not plenty of information about Spain, or because there are not a lot of things that could be said, but I am not sure how those things which could be said about Spain could be couched in a vein which: would be helpful to our affairs at present.
"Much might be said about Russia, but I am not sure we should gain any advantage by saying it I amy not quite certain that we should receive any thanks from the Soviet Government, It would be Possible to dilate at length upon the sad tale of what is going on at Vichy, but I really do not think we should profit ourselves well if we tarried long on that painful spectacle.
"Regarding Turkey, I thank Mr. Lloyd George for the great restraint with which he spoke about a country whose relations are so highly valued by us, and whose part in this great *world' conflict is of the greatest importance.
"There are two points on which I cat' relieve his feelings and anxieties about Turkey, The first is about the vessels which carried German troops through the Dardanelles to take the Greek islands. They had no right to stop them."
Mr. Churchill then read an article of the convention dealing with the straits, and added with reference to the merchantmen, "I believe one' of them might have been used in the occupation of an island but there were other vessels in the possession of the Germans and Italians which could have equally been used for that purpose, This matter is a question of the interpretation of the treaty, and is a matter for Turkey."
Mr. Churchill referred to, the remark by Mr. Lloyd George about the agreement between Turkey and Iraq and said that Mr, Lloyd George was evidently referring to Iran—J am happy to be able to relieve Mr. Lloyd George's anxiety. It appears that the arrangement is between Turkey and Persia, and relates to measures to strengthen the Turco-Persian border, which we knew all about, and which has been prepared for some time and is now to be put into force as from April 1941.
"I do not think Mr. Lloyd George's speech was particularly helpful in a period of what he himself called discouragement and disheartenment, It iginot the sort of speech one would have expected from a great war leader of former days who is accustomed to brush aside despondency and püsh onward to a distant goal.
"It was a speech with which I think the illustrious Marshal Petain might well have enlivened the days of Reynaud's cabinet. 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. Because of the kind of speech we heard from him, I think the Government were right to put down a vote of confidence. [because after our reverses and disappointments in thie field, they have the right to know where they stand with the Commons. and where the Commons stand with the country.
"It is highly important for the sake of foreign nations, especially nations balancing their policy at the present time, that they should be left in no doubt about the stability of this resolved and obstinate War Government, It is essential, considering the tremendous issues at-stake, that we should have certitude upon these matters.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.