Evening star., 1940-07-16
Laborites Protest
As Britain Postpones
Child Refugee Plan
'ComoufIoge' to Get
Wealthy Out Of
Country Charged
~ the Associated Pysss.

~ tne ASSociated PIesS. |
LONDON, July 16.-Omcial an
nouncement that the government
had postponed its plan to transfer
British child refugees to the United
States was made In the House Of
Commons today and precipitated
protests by Laborites that thousands
Of children from wealthy homes
were being sent overseas while those
Of the poor were forced to remain
and face war conditions.
One Laborite declared he was con-
vinced the whole plan had been
merely . "camouflage" to get the
children Of wealthy parents out Of
the country ahead Of the threatened
German blitzkrieg.
The announcement, authorita-
lively forecast, was made by Clement
r. Attlee, Prime Minister Churchills
lieutenant in the House Of Com.
mons.
Aid for Limited Number.
Mr.. Attlee disclosed that a "cer-
tain number" Of children would be
transferred In cases where 1t is
possible to provide proper convoy.
There Is q limited number" he
said, referring to conveys, "and to
that extent, the scheme will go
forward and will be giving some op-
portunity to children from state
aided schools"
Registration Of children under
the evacuation scheme continues,
however. So far $1,000 have applied
to 60 to Canada and 10000 to the
United States.
Private Transfers to Continue.
Mr.. Attlee said private transfers
Of children would not be stopped,
but that the risks involved must be
shouldered by their families.
The government plan was sus-
pended, he said, because the navy
found it impossible to provide the
necessary escort vessels for the At
lantic crossing, but that the govern
ment hoped ultimately the situation
at sea would permit reviving it.
Laborites gave notice they intend
to debate the full question in the
House later.
James Grif1ths, Laborite M. p,
said there was considerable feel
ing" In areas which have been
bombed because well-to-do chill
dren have been able to leave for
havens elsewhere while others must
stay.
Godfrey Shakespeare, Minister for
Overseas Trade, made no reply when
another Laborite asked If he were
aware there is great indignation at
the number of children of cabinet
ministers who have left the country"
Mr.. Shakespeare disclosed that the
number of British children between
5 and is years old who left the
British Isles last month was 1,572
for Canada and 306 for the United
States. OF these, he said, !, ,454 and
298, respectively, normally resided In
the United Kingdom. t".''s'. 8
That Is So" Mr.. Shakespeare re-
piled when asked if it were correct
that there were roughly 100000 ap-
plications for removal of children
and about 10000 offers from the
dominions.
Sales Tax Predicted.
A special war budget, which is
expected to include a sales tax, will
be introduced next Tuesday, Mr..
Attlee announced.
Special war zone courts proposed
under the emergency powers Act
would have power to impose the
death penalty for looting or for
forcing way past a military sentry,
Home Secretary Sir John Anderson
told the House.
There would be no juries and no
appeal from the decision of these
courts.
The courts are authorized under
the special powers act introduced
July 10. Sir John said the reason
was to provide a simpler, faster pro-
cedure than the normal processes
Of justice.
He said the government had no
intention of using the courts until
a critical situation arose and that
this might never come.