Thursday.—Premier's surpassing gift of speech, equally concise and eloquent, never more brilliantly displayed than this afternoon. Proposed Resolution conveying expression of sympathy and admiration for heroic resistance offered by the Belgian Army and people to wanton invasion of their territory. In speech that occupied less than ten minutes in delivery the Premier, himself moved to loftiest pitch of righteous indignation, touched deepest feelings of a crowded House.
Referring to Great Britain's intervention in "a quarrel in which it had no direct concern," he pointed out that the country threw away the scabbard only when confronted by necessity of choice between keeping and breaking solemn obligations, between the discharge of a binding trust and a shameless subservience.
A deep-throated cheer approved his emphatic declaration, "We do not repent our decision."
Cheers rang forth again when in another fine passage he said, "The Belgians have won for themselves the immortal glory which belongs to a people who prefer freedom to ease, to security, even to life itself. We are proud of their alliance and their friendship. We salute them with respect and honour. We are with them heart and soul."
Difficult to follow outburst of genuine eloquence like this, delivered with thrilling force. Bonar Law in equally brief speech voiced hearty acquiescence of Opposition in Resolution. John Redmond, associating Ireland whole-heartedly with it, made practical suggestion, that, instead of lending Belgium ten millions as proposed, we should hand the money over to her as a free gift, an instalment of a just debt.
Business done.—More Emergency Bills advanced by stages. Ominous hint of fresh taxation dropped by Chancellor.
BLANCHE'S LETTERS
The War Spirit
Park Lane.