The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-08
Critics More fingered
 Over Loss Of Narvik
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NSOhbhAANSA ment was keeping in mind the fact that British forces at Narvik are ex- posed to grave risks until Allied aeri- al supremacy Is established.
 "We also have to bear in mind the possibility of NarVik being evacu' ated in the next week or two" Hugh Dalton, laborite, said.
 Chamberlain dtd not reply, but there were cries of "Shamel" from other members.
 Laborites Reverse
 Laborites reversed their previous position In deciding to force Q vote at the end of debate tonight. They had taken 0 tentative decision yes- terday not to seek Q vote.
 The new decision sent the con- servative party whips into action to rally government supporters.
 It was generally believed that the Chamberlain government, despite bitter attacks on its conduct of tho war, would be able to secure a ma jority, but some of the laborites were hopeful of an upset. A vote of non -conf nfidence would almost certain ly force Chamberlain resignation. tThe conservative party has 374 out of a total of SIS members in the House of Commons, but the cab met also has liberal national, na- tlonal labor and national supporters to make Q total of 4l8 supporters)
 There was e growing belief that @ number of government supporters would abstain from voting, which would damage the prestige of the Chamberlain cabinet, If not result In It's overthrow.
 Speeches Termed Weak
 Speeches by Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and oliver Stanley, war secretary, opening and closing yes- terdays debate, had been termed weak, Speeches by government groups, including members of the government coalition, had been played up in newspapers as strong.
 Labor party leaders, at 6 meeting this morning before Commons reas. Sembled, discussed the advisability of forcing a confidence vote, in which they would have sought 0 straight ballot on confidence or no confidence in Chamberlain and his colleagues.
 They decided not to demand Q vote, on the ground that It might only rally diffldent or dissident members of the government major- ity to Chamberlain's support.
 The feeling strengthened that Chamberlain'S cabinet, as now con. stituted, was on the way out.
 A general shake-up, possibly in- volving the retirement of older key men in the cabinet, was expected not today or this week but as soon as Q deliberate decision could be made.
 The fate not only Of Chamber. lain's ministry but that of Premier Paul Reynaud of France, the atti- tude of European neutrals and the future Of British war policy hinged on the debate which ends tonight,
 Lloyd George Speaks
 Star figures of the debate today were Lavid Lloyd George, war time prime minister, the dynamic Welsh ''radicap who was called to leader. ship at 0 critical time In iol6, and Winston Churchill, his colleague, and now first lord of the admiralty, and, increasingly, Britain's "war lord"
 Lloyd George was primed to at. tack the government or almost all grounds, as he had done consistent ly curing the appeaSement years and since the war started,
 Churchill, newly invested with in- creased authority to coordinate Sri. tains war efforts, closes for the gov- ernment A week speech could doom tho government: Q strong one save 1t.
 There waG c setting for c drama Last night a 88-year-old admiral, . member ot the commons, Sir Roger Reyes, bitterly denounced the government for failing to attack tho German Trondhe!m base, key to the Norwegian coast, from the sea. Reyes was In on what hos boon called Churchills glorious failure to storm the Turkish Dardanelles dur. ing the World War. It has been alleged that the straits would have been taken but for lassitude and even sabotage in the defense de- partments.
 Reyes Daring Exploit
 Then in 1918, Reyes led one of the most daring-aiid most success. fui--exploitS of the World War. He commanded and led the fleet and landing party which stormed and closed to navigation the vital Ger. man submarine bases at zeebrugge and ostend, on the Belgian coast oppoSite Britain. That was the sort of exploit that would have been needed ct Trondheim.
 Lloyd George as prime minister had approved the zeebrugge and Ostend raid. Churchill, then wal minister, was reported to have urg. cd Chamberlain to approve tht Trondheiin raid.
 There was no definite ofter fol speakers today. Scheduled, however were Hcrbert Morrison and A. V Alexander, for the labor party: Les. a.m