In the further debate on the Army Estimates a good deal was said about the unfortunate events in Ireland. Mr. T. P. O'Connor had the grace to withdraw some of the unfortunate insinuations against the conduct of the British soldiers into which he had been betrayed the day before, but Messrs. Kenworthy and Malone repeated them with additions of their own, and incurred thereby a castigation from Mr. Churchill which the House cordially approved.
The Coal Mines (Emergency) Bill was read a third time. On behalf of the Labour Party, Mr. Adamson declared that the profits of the coal industry must be "pooled"—a proposition which would command general approval if there seemed any likelihood that consumers would receive a share of the pool.
Wednesday, March 24th.—Since Disraeli startled a scientific meeting by declaring himself to be "on the side of the angels" there has been no more remarkable piece of self-revelation than Lord Birkenhead's defence of the Matrimonial Causes Bill. It was not so much his wealth of ecclesiastical lore or the impassioned appeal that he made for the victims of the present divorce law that impressed the Peers as the high line that he took in condemning the opponents of the measure. He as good as told the occupants of the Episcopal Bench that their view of marriage was lacking in spirituality. The Archbishop of Canterbury was so dumbfounded by the accusation that he meekly confessed himself unable to follow the Lord Chancellor's religious arguments. Lord Salisbury displayed more pugnacity in a reassertion of views that had been described as "mediæval superstition." But the Peers preferred the Use of Birkenhead to the Use of Sarum, and gave the Bill a Second Reading by a two-to-one majority.
The Postmaster-General, Mr. Illingworth (after some unsuccessful attempts to ring up the Prime Minister for particulars about the pronunciation of Gwalchmai). "Ah well, if I can't get on to David within the next half-hour I must content myself with calling it 'the other place.'" [Does so.]
In the course of the debate Lord Buckmaster expressed his regret that so effective an orator as the Archbishop of York should have deserted the Law for the Church. After this afternoon's display I could not help wondering what would have happened if "F. E.'s" call had been to the Church instead of the Bar, and whether a shovel-hat would not have suited him even better than a wig.
Members who display a friendly interest in the revival of German trade were gratified to learn that the clock-manufacturers, at any rate, are taking time by the forelock and are already sending their goods to this country. So far are they, moreover, from cherishing animosity or desiring to magnify the Fatherland that they modestly label them "Westminster Chimes." It is pleasant to record that the Board of Trade, exhibiting the same spirit of self-abnegation, has insisted on substituting the time-honoured inscription, "Made in Germany."
THE RIGHT REVEREND THE LORD BISHOP OF BIRKENHEAD.
It is a mistake to suppose that there are no limits to the ambition of the Geddes family. "I never wanted air-transport," said Sir Eric this afternoon, and later on he expressly disclaimed the megalomania which had been attributed to him "by those best able to diagnose the disease." He is certainly coming on as a Parliamentary speaker, and gave an informing and, on the whole, hopeful account of the work of the railways in promoting reconstruction.