MR. CHURCHILL SEES RED.
Army Uniform (1) as it is; (2) As it was before the war and will be again; and (3) as to suit Mr. Churchill's Marlborough traditions, it should have been.
In resisting the proposal to make a levy on capital Mr. Chamberlain covered the ground so exhaustively that, as Sir F. Banbury subsequently observed, the chief complaint to be made of his speech was that it was not delivered three months before, when it would have saved the money-market great anxiety and prevented much depreciation of capital. For, according to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, a levy on war-wealth was never really practicable, and even if it had been would have had no effect upon the amount of the floating debt, his most pressing problem. But, if so, why not have said it at the start, instead of setting up a Committee to try to find a solution for the insoluble?
Mr. Chamberlain's contention that by the income-tax and super-tax wealth was already heavily conscripted would have perhaps been better left without illustration. His case of the gentleman with £131,000 a year, who after paying his taxes had only £42,500 to spend, left Mr. Stephen Walsh quite cold. Sir Donald Maclean, by some odd process of reasoning, came to the conclusion that the Government's decision would be welcomed by all the enemies of capital, and announced his intention of joining the Labour Party in the Lobby.
Wednesday, June 9th.— The Air Navigation Bill passed through the usually serene atmosphere of the Upper House, but not without encountering a certain number of "bumps." Lord Montagu, calling to mind the nursery saying, "if pigs could fly," was alarmed by the possibility that "air-hogs" might interfere with the amenities, and might even endanger the lives, of earth-bound citizens by flying over them at unduly low altitudes. He suggested two thousand feet as a minimum. Lord Londonderry resisted the Amendment on the ground that it was difficult to gauge the height at which aircraft flew, and thought few airmen would care to risk the penalties provided in the Bill—a fine of two hundred pounds and six months' imprisonment—by indulging a taste for forbidden stunts.
At first blush you would hardly think it necessary to include the City Corporation among the local authorities who may establish aerodromes. The "one square mile" does not offer much encouragement to the airman who wishes to make a safe landing. But you never can tell what may happen. The "Old Lady of Threadneedle Street," who is said to be contemplating an upward extension of her premises, may perhaps welcome aeroplanes to her hospitable roof, and thereby give a new significance to "banking" in the aviator's vocabulary.
In the Commons the anomalous position produced by President Wilson's undertaking to delimit the boundaries of Armenia, although his country has refused to accept the mandate for its administration, elicited from Mr. Bonar Law the curious explanation that the invitation to delimit was addressed to Mr. Wilson "in his personal capacity." But when Mr. Bottomley sought further light on this phrase Mr. Law was unable or unwilling to supply it. He did, however, vouchsafe the information that, whatever America might do, this country would not add Armenia to its existing share of "the white man's burden."
Resourceful Spokesman of Picnic Party (anticipating trouble). "Delighted you were able to turn up! You don't mind our having started without you?"
Thursday, June 10th.—It seems a pity that since Count de Salis left Montenegro and made his famous secret report the British Government has had no representative in that distracted country. In the absence of official information the most diverse descriptions of its present state gain currency. According to Lord Sydenham the Serbians, who wish to incorporate Montenegro in the new Jugo-Slavia, are taking every step to intimidate their opponents (described as ninety per cent. of the population) and have incidentally imprisoned a number of ex-Ministers. Lord Curzon agreed that this was quite probable, inasmuch as ex-Ministers bore a considerable ratio to the whole population, but otherwise challenged Lord Sydenham's allegations. His own information (source not named) was that the Montenegrin majority was in favour of Yugo-Slav union. The debate confirmed the impression that all statements emanating from the Black Mountain should be taken cum grano de Salis.
In the Commons Mr. Bonar Law was taking a day off, and, as usually happens when the Prime Minister is in charge, "a certain liveliness" prevailed. The renewed offensive of General Wrangel incited the Bolshevist sympathisers to start one on their own account. An attempt to move the adjournment was nipped in the bud by the Speaker. Colonel Wedgwood made a gallant effort to usurp the functions of the Chair by declaring that the matter was both definite and urgent; but Mr. Lowther replied that unfortunately the decision rested with him and not with the hon. Member.
The House then settled down to business, and gave a Third Reading to two Bills, and a Second Reading to five others. On the Women, Young Persons and Children (Employment) Bill Mr. Barnes took exception, not unnaturally, to a clause permitting "the employment of women and young persons in shifts up to ten o'clock at night," and Major Baird undertook to consider the withdrawal of this equivocal piece of draftsmanship.
"'The time has come,' the walrus said,
'To speak of many things:
Of shoes and ships and sealing-wax,
Of cabbages and kings.'—(O. Henry)."
Free State Paper.
Where did Lewis Carroll? Apparently not in the Free State.
Curate (discussing the drink question). "Mind you, I'm fond of a glass of beer. myself, but I can't indulge. It doesn't agree with me."
Rustic (sympathetically). "Dear, dear! Ain't there no cure?"