HC Deb 24 April 1939 vol 346 cc789-93
Mr. Attlee

May I ask the Prime Minister for what purpose it is proposed to suspend the Eleven o'Clock Rule to-night?

The Prime Minister

We hope to make good progress in Committee with the Civil Defence Bill, but it is not proposed to ask the House to sit very late.

Mr. Attlee

Can the Prime Minister say when he will be able to make a further statement on the international situation, including a statement as to the reasons for Sir Nevile Henderson's return to Berlin?

The Prime Minister

With regard to the first part of the right hon. Gentleman's question, the answer depends on the progress of the various conversations which are taking place between His Majesty's Government and other Governments. As soon as there is anything to report to the House, I shall be glad to give all the information I possibly can. With regard to Sir Nevile Henderson, the right hon. Gentleman has only given me notice at this moment that he was going to put the question. There is no special significance in the return of Sir Nevile Henderson. He was called back to report, and after he had made his report he was given a short period of leave, which expired after Easter. He is going back in the normal course.

Mr. Benn

May I ask whether on the right hon. Gentleman's statement the Government have decided to recognise what has been done in Albania?

The Prime Minister

No, Sir.

Mr. Benn

You have not decided?

The Prime Minister

No, Sir.

Mr. Boothby

May I ask whether we are, therefore, to understand that in sending Sir Nevile Henderson back to Berlin it in any way denotes that His Majesty's Government accept the annexation of Czecho-Slovakia?

The Prime Minister

Certainly not, in any way.

Motion made, and Question put, That the Proceedings on Government Business be exempted, at this day's Sitting, from the provisions of the Standing Order (Sittings of the House)"— [The Prime Minister.]

The House divided: Ayes, 240; Noes, 96.

Division No. 82.] AYES. [3.48 p.m.
Acland, R. T. D. (Barnstaple) Graham, Captain A. C. (Wirral) Palmer, G. E. H.
Acland-Troyte, Lt.-Col. G. J. Grattan-Doyle, Sir N. Peake, O.
Adams, S. V. T. (Leeds, W.) Gridley, Sir A. B. Pickthorn, K. W. M.
Agnew, Lieut.-Comdr. P. G. Griffith, F. Kingsley (M'ddl'sbro, W.) Pilkington, R.
Albery, Sir Irving Grigg, Sir E. W. M. Plugge, Capt. L. F.
Allen, Col. J. Sandeman (B'knhead) Grimston, R. V. Pownall, Lt.-Col. Sir Assheton)
Allen, Lt.-Col. Sir W. J. (Armagh) Guest, Hon. I. (Brecon and Radnor) Procter, Major H. A.
Anderson, Rt. Hn. Sir J. (Sc'h Univ's) Guinness, T. L. E. B. Purbrick, R.
Aske, Sir R. W. Hacking, Rt. Hon. Sir D. H. Raikes, H. V. A. M.
Assheton, R, Hambro, A. V. Ramsay, Captain A. H. M.
Astor, Major Hon. J. J. (Dover) Hammersley, S. S. Ramsbotham, H.
Astor, Hon. W. W. (Fulham, E.) Hannah, I. C. Rathbone, Eleanor (English Univ's.)
Baillie, Sir A. W. M. Hannon, Sir P. J. H. Rathbone, J. R. (Bodmin)
Balfour, Capt. H. H. (Isle of Thanet) Harris, Sir P. A. Rayner, Major R. H.
Barrie, Sir C.C. Haslam, Henry (Horncastle) Reed, A. G. (Exeter)
Beauchamp, Sir B. C. Hellgers, Captain F. F. A. Reed, Sir H. S. (Aylesbury)
Beaumont, Hon. R. E. B. (Portsm'h) Hely-Hutchinson, M. R. Reid, J. S. C. (Hillhead)
Bernays, R. H. Heneage, Lieut.-Colonel A. P. Remer, J. R.
Blair, Sir R. Hepburn, P. G. T. Buchan- Rickards, G. W. (Skipton)
Boothby, R. J. G. Herbert, Major J. A. (Monmouth) Robinson, J. R. (Blaskpool)
Bossom, A. C Hoare, Rt. Hon. Sir S. Rosbotham, Sir T.
Brass, Sir W. Hore-Belisha, Rt. Hon. L. Ross, Major Sir R. D. (Londonderry)
Broadbridge, Sir G. T. Horsbrugh, Florence Rothschild, J. A. de
Brocklebank, Sir Edmund Howitt, Dr. A. B. Royds, Admiral Sir P. M. R,
Brooke, H. (Lewisham, W.) Hudson, Capt. A. U. M. (Hack., N.) Russell, Sir Alexander
Brown, Rt. Hon. E. (Leith) Hulbert, Squadron-Leader N. J. Russell, S. H. M. (Darwen)
Brown, Brig-Gen. H. C. (Newbury) Hume, Sir G. H. Salmon, Sir I.
Browne, A. C. (Belfast, W.) Hunloke, H. P. Salt, E. W.
Bull, B. B. Hunter, T. Salter, Sir J. Arthur (Oxford U.)
Bullock, Capt. M. Hurd, Sir P. A. Samuel, M. R. A.
Burghley, Lord James, Wing-Commander A. W. H. Sandeman, Sir N. S.
Burgin, Rt. Hon. E. L. Jarvis, Sir J. J. Sanderson, Sir F. B.
Burton, Col. H. W. Jones, L. (Swansea W.) Sandys, E. D.
Butcher, H. W. Keeling, E. H. Sassoon, Rt. Hon Sir P.
Butler, Rt. Hon. R. A. Kerr, H. W. (Oldham) Seely, Sir H. M.
Caine, G. R. Hall- Knox, Major-General Sir A. W. F. Selley, H. R.
Cartland, J. R. H. Lamb, Sir J. Q. Shaw, Captain W. T. (Forfar)
Cary, R. A. Lambert, Rt. Hon. G. Sinclair, Rt. Hon. Sir A. (C'thn's)
Castlereagh, Viscount Leech, Sir J. W. Smith, Sir R. W. (Aberdeen)
Cayzer, Sir H. R. (Portsmouth, S.) Leighton, Molar B. E. P. Smithers, Sir W.
Cazalet, Thelma (Islington, E.) Levy, T. Somerville, A. A. (Windsor)
Cazalet, Capt. V. A. (Chippenham) Lewis, O. Southby, Commander Sir A. R. J.
Channon, H. Lindsay, K. M. Spears, Brigadier-General E. L.
Chapman, A. (Rutherglen) Lipson, D. L. Stanley, Rt. Hon. Oliver (W'm'l'd)
Chapman, Sir S. (Edinburgh, S.) Llewellin, Colonel J. J. Stewart, J. Henderson (Fife, E.)
Chorlton, A. E. L. Lloyd, G. W. Stewart, William J. (Belfast, S.)
Churchill, Rt. Hon. Winston S. Loftus, P. C. Storey, S.
Clarke, Colonel R. S. (E. Grinstead) Lyons, A. M. Strauss, H. G. (Norwich)
Cobb, Captain E. C. (Preston) Mabane, W. (Huddersfield) Strickland, Captain W. F.
Colman, N. C. D MacAndrew, Colonel Sir C. G. Stuart, Hon. J. (Moray and Nairn)
Colville, Rt. Hon. John Macdonald, Capt. P. (Isle of Wight) Tasker, Sir R. I.
Conant, Captain R. J. E. McEwen, Capt. J. H. F. Tate, Mavis C.
Cooke, J. Q. (Hammersmith, S.) McKie, J. H. Taylor, C. S. (Eastbourne)
Cox, H. B. Trevor Macnamara, Lt.-Col. J. R. J. Taylor, Vice-Adm. E. A. (Padd., S.)
Cranborne, Viscount Maitland, Sir Adam Thomas, J. P. L.
Croft, Brig.-Gen. Sir H. Page Making, Brigadier-General Sir Ernest Thomson, Sir J. D. W.
Crookshank, Capt. Rt. Hon. H. F. C. Margesson, Capt. Rt. Hon. H. D. R. Thornton-Kemsley, C. N.
Crossley, A. C. Markham, S. F. Touche, G. C.
Grander, J. F. E. Marsden, Commander A. Tufnell, Lieut.-Commander R. L.
Culverwell, C. T. Maxwell, Hon. S. A. Turton, R. H.
Davison, Sir W. H. Mayhew, Lt.-Col. J. Ward, Lieut.-Col. Sir A. L. (Hull)
De la Bère R. Medlicott, F. Wardlaw-Milne, Sir J. S.
Denman, Hon. R. D. Meller, Sir R. J. (Mitcham) Warrender, Sir V.
Denville, Alfred Mellor, Sir J. S. P. (Tamworth) Waterhouse, Captain C.
Doland, G. F. Mills, Sir F. (Leyton, E.) Watt, Lt.-Col. G. S. Harvie
Dorman-Smith, Col. Rt. Hon. Sir R. H. Mills, Major J. D. (Now Forest) Wedderburn, H. J. S.
Dower, Lieut.-Col. A. V. G. Mitchell, Sir W. Lane (Streatham) Wells, Sir Sydney
Duggan, H. J. Mitcheson, Sir G. G. Whiteley, Major J. P. (Buckingham)
Duncan, J. A. L. Moore-Brabazon, Lt.-Col. J. T. C. Wickham, Lt.-Col. E. T. R.
Dunglass, Lord Moreing, A. C. Williams, H. G. (Croydon, S)
Eastwood, J. F. Morgan, R. H. (Worcester, Stourbridge) Willoughby de Eresby, Lord
Eden, Rt. Hon. A. Morrison, G. A. (Scottish Univ's.) Wilson, Lt.-Col. Sir A. T. (Hitchin)
Edmendson, Major Sir J. Morrison, Rt. Hon. W. S. (Cirencester) Wise, A. R.
Emmott, C. E. G. C. Muirhead, Lt.-Col. A. J. Womersley, Sir W. J.
Emrys-Evans, P. V. Munro, P. Wood, Hon. C. I. C.
Entwistle, Sir C. F. Neven-Spence, Major B. H. H. Wood, Rt. Hon. Sir Kingsley
Findlay, Sir E. Nicolson, Hon. H. G. Wright, Wing-Commander J. A. C.
Fleming, E. L. O'Connor, Sir Terence J.
Furness, S. N O'Neill, Rt. Hon. Sir Hugh TELLERS FOR THE AYES.—
George, Megan Lloyd (Anglesey) Orr-Ewing, I. L. Lieut.-Colonel Kerr and Captain.
Gilmour, Lt.-Col. Rt. Hon. Sir J. Owen, Major G. Dugdale
Glyn, Major Sir R. G. C.
NOES.
Adams, D. (Consett) Greenwood, Rt. Hon. A. Pethick-Lawrence, Rt. Hon. F. W.
Adams, D. M. (Poplar, S.) Grenfell, D. R. Poole, C. C.
Adamson, Jennie J. (Dartford) Griffiths, G. A. (Hemsworth) Ridley, G.
Adamson, W. M. Griffiths, J. (Llanelly) Ritson, J.
Alexander, Rt. Hon. A. V. (H'lsbr.) Guest, Dr. L. H. (Islington, N.) Sexton, T. M.
Anderson, F. (Whitehaven) Hall, J. H. (Whitechapel) Shinwell, E.
Atlee, Rt. Hon. C. R. Hardie, Agnes Silverman, S. S.
Banfield, J. W. Henderson, A. (Kingswinford) Simpson, F. B.
Barnes, A. J. Henderson, T. (Tradeston) Smith, Ban (Rotherhithe)
Barr, J. Hills, A. (Pontefract) Smith, E. (Stoke)
Batey, J. Jagger, J. Smith, Rt. Hon. H. B. Lees-(K'ly)
Bellenger, F. J. Jenkins, A. (Pontypool) Smith, T. (Normanton)
Benn, Rt. Hon. W. W. Jones, A. C. (Shipley) Stephen, C.
Benson, G. Kennedy, Rt. Hon. T. Stewart, W. J. (H'ght'n-le-Sp'ng)
Broad, F. A. Lansbury, Rt. Hon. G. Strauss, G. R. (Lamboth, N.)
Brown, C. (Mansfield) Lathan, G. Summerskill, Dr. Edith
Chater, D. Leach, W. Taylor, R. J. (Morpeth)
Cluse, W. S. Leslie, J. R. Thorns, W.
Collindridge, F. Logan, D. G. Thurtle, E.
Cove, W. G. Lunn, W. Tinker, J. J.
Daggar, G. McEntee, V. La T. Viant, S. P.
Dalton, H. McGhee, H. G. Walkden, A. G.
Davies, S. O. (Merthyr) MacLaren, A. Walker, J.
Day, H. Mathers, G. Wedgwood, Rt. Hon. J. C.
Dunn, E. (Rother Valley) Messer, F. Whiteley, W. (Blaydon)
Ede, J. C. Montague, F. Williams, E. J. (Ogmore)
Edwards, A. (Middlesbrough E.) Morgan, J. (York, W.R., Doncaster) Williams, T. (Don Valley)
Fletcher, Lt.-Comdr. R. T. H. Morrison, R. C. (Tottenham, N.) Wilson, C. H. (Attercliffe)
Frankel, D. Nathan, Colonel H. L. Windsor, W. (Hull, C.)
Gallacher, W. Naylor, T. E. Young, Sir R. (Newton)
Gardner, S. W. Noel-Baker, P. J.
Gibson, R. (Greenock) Parker, P. J. TELLERS FOR THE NOES.—
Green, W. H. (Deptford) Pearson, A. Mr. Charleton and Mr. Groves.