When the House of Lords unanimously passed the vote of confidence in Mr, Winston Chvrchill's Government, an? ih> House of Commons did so with only.e dissent fients, a striking display of solidarity was given, The legislature as well as the country is firmly behind the Prime Minister and the determination to prosecute this war to a successful conclusion has in no way been modified by the declarations of Mr. Churchill. Con.paring the debates in the two houses with the recent session of the Reichstag the world at large can observe the vast difference between the democratic system of Great Britain, with liberty of speech and criticism, and the tyranny of the Nazis who brook neither. Hitler merely harangues his listeners with an enormous number of ridiculous statements, which they have to hear in silence. Any attempt to debate his conduct of the war would indeed be the precursor of that revolution with which this war will in all probability end. Free debate and criticism is the last thing which the dictate orial system can afford to tolerate; it must be regarded at all times as completely infallible.
From the lengthy reports of the speeches which have come to hand, it can be seen that such a debate as this can only be carried on under very well understood limitations. The most obvious one is that nothing should be said which might be of any assistance whatever to the enemy, and because of this the Government is necessarily hampered in making out its case. That Mr. Churchill made out a good one is clear; that Mr, Eden also defended his policy to good effect is also amply demonstrated, and, taking the speeches of the two statesmen together, the conclusion to be drawn is that despite the manner in which they were obviously hampered they succeeded in making out a convincing case. That is the signific~ ance of the practically unanimous vote in the Commons.
The statements of the Prime Minister, ang Mr. Eden with regard to Greece, and Iraq indicate that the suspicions as to the efficiency of the British intelligence service are not well founded. As far as the German invasion of the Balkans is concerned the British Government had ample forewarning.
The high command made the best dispositions it could considering the resources at its disposal. With regard to Iraq the Foreign Office was equally alert, requesting that 4 forces should be sent to that country long before there was any imminent danger of the coup d'état. It was not militarily feasible to do so at the time, and the blame for earlier action not having been taken cannot rest upon the Foreign Office. Nevertheless, Mr, Churchill did admit that mistakes had been made, notably in Cyrenaica. It is clear that that province was much too lightly held.
But mistakes are made in all wars. The Germans made their greatest in this when they failed to strike at Great Britain after Dunkirk, when with a completely unprepared Britain the chances of a successful invasion were at their highest. The fact that the Governr"nt has not replaced General Sir Archibal Wavell is not only a sign of their confidence in him, but of their recognition of the fact that he did the best (possible having regard to all the circumstances. These have apparently been considerably improved since the withdrawal from Greece, and the steady arrival of reinforcements in Egypt. Mr. Churchill has revealed that there are now half a million men under General Wavell, very many more than when the Italians were so splendidly dealt with, and a steady concentration in Egypt is becoming possible by the liquidation of Italian resistance in Abyssinia, Africa and the Somalilands. There is consequently good reason to regard the future developments in the eastern Mediterranean with a quiet confidence as to the ultimate outcome.
Mr. Churchill in winding up the debate posed as no confirmed optimist. He did not attempt in any way to paint a picture in rosy tints, but rather put the whole case in terms of the completest sanity. "I have never underrated our problems and dangers." he said. "We are fighting for our life and survival from day to day and hour to hour. But Hitler has his problems too, and if we only remain united and strive together like one great family, helping each other as five million families in Britain are doing today under enemy fire, I cannot conceive how anyone can doubt that victory will crown the cause which we serve." Then there is his peroration: "When I look back on the perils which we have overcome, and remember all that has gone wrong, and also all that has gone right, I feel sure we have no need to fear the tempest. Let it roar. Let it rage. We shall come through." There is great comfort in those words simply because of their stark truth.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.