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.