The Debate Grows Warm

"If Russia surrenders, I doubt whether our resolution to hold out would endure for long," said Colonel Josiah Wedgwood, Labor M. P., in the House of Commons last week.

Shocked as they were by such plain and pessimistic speaking, millions of Britons nevertheless agreed that their Government's inaction was a national humiliation. Critics of the Government did not know whether an invasion of the Continent was possible or not. But they feared that Britain's leadership, even if it were able to, did not want to make such an invasion.

The names that stud the Churchill Cabinet--Ambassador to the U.S. Lord Halifax, Chancellor of the Exchequer Sir Kingsley Wood, War Secretary Captain David Margesson and others--seem to many Britons touched with the odor of Munich. Last week the growth of discontent in Britain could be measured in figures. A Gallup poll recorded that only 29% of the citizens polled felt that their country was making the most of its opportunities, only 44% were satisfied with the Government's war conduct. (Even after the disaster of Crete 58% were satisfied with the war effort.)

Madness, Folly, Suicide. Gauging the rising tide of dissatisfaction, the Government commissioned a spokesman, Colonial Secretary Lord Moyne, to speak plain truth to the British people. But Lord Moyne could tell Britain none of the many facts that Britons ached to hear: what was being sent to Russia, how great a striking force Britain had to throw against the thin 40 German divisions in the West, how much shipping would be needed for an invasion and how much was available.

Bound to secrecy, he could only confess that Britain lacked tanks, lacked big guns, lacked shipping, lacked manpower to compete with a Germany many times her size.

Under these circumstances, said Lord Moyne, invasion would be "madness . . .

folly . . . suicide." Labor critics were not silenced. "There are 100 places along the coast of Europe where British troops could make raids every night," said Colonel Wedgwood, veteran of World War I's Gallipoli. "Italy . . . opens up vital possibilities," suggested News Commentator Commander Stephen King-Hall. "Our people would be very happy if some part of these [British Near Eastern] forces could be sent to the support of the Russian armies of the Ukraine," observed ex-Pacifist Philip J. Noel Baker.

Emanuel Shinwell said flatly: "I am beginning to think that it is not in the public interest that members of the present Government should remain in office." Eden Stands Pat. The Government stood pat. Though its hold on the people seemed weaker, its hold on a Parliamentary majority was unquestioned. Speaking at Manchester, Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden said: "We shall take no action to gain a transient popular favor. . . . War is a long-term business. The issue will not be settled by any sudden, brilliant improvisation. Not one of my colleagues in the War Cabinet would pretend that ... we have made no mistakes . . . but we do think that our efforts, and above all our Prime Minister, have merited a measure of your confidence."

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