Evening star., 1944-12-19
Churchill Again
Defends Action
In Belgium
BIuckout of News
By Eisenhower
Also Supported
BY the Associated Press.

LONDON, Dec. 19.-Prime Min
lister Churchill today blocked q
full-scale Commons review of
the war and the strife in Greece
but was forced into a new hot
tempered defense of British
troops intervention in Belgium
I'VE are acting under American
Instructions he said in upholding
use of armed force in last month S
riots in Belgium
Referring repeatedly to Gen.
Eisenhower in hitting back at the
acid criticism of opposition men,
bers, Mr.. Churchill said "a great
battle is proceeding now" He re-
fused to give a review of the general
war situation on the ground that
Gen. Eisenhower was right in i'm
posing temporary news blackout"
on western front developments.
Situation Improved.
He reported the situation in
Greece has greatly improved" but
refused to elaborate.
Mr.. Churchill made it clear that
II Commons wanted an immediate
review of the Greek situation it
would have to come on a vote Of
censure-a parliamentary maneuver
which would mean his government
would stand or fall on the outcome.
The opposition did not appear
disposed to accept the challenge on
those terms.
Laborlte Emanuel Shinwell sought
to pin the Prime Minister down on
the question of whether establish
ment sof a regency In Greece lis
being in any way frustrated or i'm
peded by the attitude of King
George II of Greece.
No Further Statement.
Il said just now that l had no
further statement to make at pres
ent on Greece" the Prime Minister
said.
Would not it be wise to advise
that all shooting should stop in
Greece and that a debate should
take place not here but in Athens?"
asked Communist William Gal
lacher.
Il am afraid you cannot always
stop shooting by saying you would
like to stop it," Mr.. Churchill re-
torted.
Opponents of Britains policy then
shifted to Belgium. challenging Mr.
Churchill's account of precaution-
sry steps taken in November when
truckloads of armed insurgents were
moving on Brussels from Mons.
British Troops Helped.
Mr.. Churchill said he checked the
facts he gave last week with the
best authorities. Most of the dis
arming of insurgents had been done
by Belgian authorities, he said. but
lin few cases Belgian civilians
willingly approached British troops
to surrender their arms and they
were naturally helped to do So
Then he added:
The attitude of the British mil
itary authorities was regulated by
instructions received from the su-
preme military commander. Those
instructions were in full accord with
views of British government and we
should be glad to share his respon-
sibility"
Mr.. Churchill said Gen. Eisen-
hover himself visited Brussels land
gave very decided and clear instruc-
tions as to the Importance of pre-
serving tranquility of communica-
tions."
Wherefore" he added, "far from
withdrawing anything I said in my
speech. may say that mature re-
Election, apart from some small de-
tails, leads me to reiterate it."
Gives Version of Demonstration.
Sir Richard Acland, Common
wealth party leader, suggested the
Prime Minister should check up on
his sources of information, which
seem to be letting him down all over
the world"
The sharp exchange continued as
Mr.. Churchill recounted his version
of demonstration at the Belgian
Parliamentary House.
Il believe there was also an ad-
vance by large crowd on Parlia-
(See CHURCHILL, Page A-lOD