Posted on 04/27/2009 5:54:49 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson
Of course the introduction of conscription at this stage did not give us an army. It only applied to the men of twenty years of age; they had still to be trained; and after they had been trained they had still to be armed. It was however a symbolic gesture of the utmost consequence to France and Poland, and to other nations on whom we had lavished our guarantees. In the debate the Opposition failed in their duty. Both Labour and Liberal Parties shrank from facing the ancient and deep-rooted prejudice which has always existed in England against compulsory military service. The Leader of the Labour Party moved that:
Whilst prepared to take all necessary steps to provide for the safety of the nation and the fulfilment of its international obligations, this House regrets that His Majestys Government, in breach of their pledges, should abandon the voluntary principle, which has not failed to provide the man-power needed for defence, and is of opinion that the measure proposed is ill-conceived, and, so far from adding materially to the effective defence of the country, will promote division and discourage the national effort, and is further evidence that the Governments conduct of affairs throughout these critical times does not merit the confidence of the country or this House.
The Leader of the Liberal Party also found reasons for opposing this step. Both these men were distressed at the course they felt bound on party grounds to take. But they both took it, and adduced a wealth of reasons. The division was on party lines, and the Conservatives carried their policy by 380 to 143 votes. In my speech I tried my best to persuade the Opposition to support this indispensable measure; but my efforts were in vain. I understood fully their difficulties, especially when confronted with a Government to which they were opposed. I must record the event, because it deprives Liberal and Labour partisans of any right to censure the Government of the day. They showed their own measure in relation to events only too plainly. Presently they were to show a truer measure.
Winston S. Churchill, The Gathering Storm
See Churchill’s version of this even at #2.
As usual, military prep was opposed by the academic community and the socialists.
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