Evening star., 1942-05-20
'Cripps Tells House
Bombing Nazis Is Besl
Prelude 10 Invasion
Attack on Continent
Intended, He Says, in
Answering Critics
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
LONDON, May 20. Bombing
Germany is the best way Of as
sisting Russia until such time
as we are able to make a care
fully-planned attack upon the
continent of Europe, which we
intend to do," Sir Stafford CrippS
told the House Of Commons to-
day.
Answering criticism in the second
day Of q war debate in which Prime
Minister Churchill is not participat-
ing, Sir Stafford, who is the govern
ment leader in the House, declared
the government was ready to face a
vote of confidence If ANY substan-
tial body Of members" desired it.
Leslie Hore-Belisha, former War
Secretary and a sharp critic Of Brit
aims war leadership, urged estab-
lishment Of a separate Ministry Of
Defense. which now is under Mr..
Churchill.
THE war cabinet desires to have
the advice Of a first-class Defense
Minister, and there Is no one with
wider and longer experience OF de-
tense problems than the Prime Min
ister," replied Sir Stafford.
Warns on Pressure for New Front.
To repeated assertions that MIR.
Churchill dominated the govern
ment and even appeared to "hypno-
tie Others" Sir Stafford replied
that "the Prime Minister as Minister
of Defense submits to control Of the
cabinet Just as other ministers do in
their sphere Of activity"
Mr.. Hore- -Belisha conceded that
the government should not be
"hounded into opening a western
front against Germany" saying that
would be perhaps "the biggest un-
dertaking in British military history,
and worse than not undertaking 1t
would be to undertake 1t and fail"
The House, some Of whose mem
bers have insisted that Prime Min
lister Churchill engage in the cur
rent war debate, was informed by
Sir Stafford that Mr.. Churchill was
not participating because he had
nothing to add to his recent state
ment.
When two members asked him
pointedly why the Prime Minister
was not present for the important
debate, Sir Stafford replied that it
was not possible" for him to be
there.
Churchill Holds Two Posts.
Mr.. Hore-Belisha then COM
planned that I'VE have reached an
extraordinary pass when in q war
debate the House not only does
not have the benefit Of the serv-
ice ministers, but also does not
have the advantage Of the presence
Of the Minister of Defense"
Mr.. Hore-Belisha, noting "a feel
ing Of optimism being engendered
in this country in marked contrast
to the atmosphere Of last February" ="
asked whether 1t would be more
prudent and in accordance with
Stalin's own judgment to take q
more restrained view"
The former War Secretary said
the Japanese were still advancing"
and warned that II the Allies could
open q second front in the west in
order to help Russia the Japanese
could open q second front in the
east in order to embarrass Russia.
''' We are not fighting Germany
alone but a powerful Axis combi-
nation"
Others Join In Demands.
Other members joined Mr.. Hore-
Belisha In demands for separation
Of the political element represented
by Mr.. Churchills position as Minis
ter of Defense from the purely mill
tary element In management Of the
war.
Mr.. Hore-Belisha said this dual
control had resulted in "an almost
unbroken" series Of disasters.
A. p. Herbert. Independent Ma
tional, rose to the defense Of Mr..
Churchill, saying those who spoke
in yesterdays debate Of disaster
after disaster" had painted q one
sided picture.
The man responsible for Hong
Kong and Singapore is also re-
sponsible for Tobruk, Malta and for
sinking half the Italian feet and
for sinking the Bismarck and the
Graf Spec" Mr.. Herbert said.
IF we are going to have this sort
Of ock-taking we are entitled to
say this man Is responsible for the
fact that during the past IL months
the people Of England have been
able to sleep in their beds and the
wheels Of industry have been able
to revolve uninterrupted-and that's
very much the reverse Of what has
been happening in Germany"
Mr.. Herbert said he also could
not agree that there was this awful
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