NEWS OF THE WEEK
THERE is no satisfaction for anyone—except perhaps for Government supporters who desired to dissociate themselves from the Government and had not an opportunity of speaking— in the division in the House of Commons on Wednesday night. In what was virtually a vote of confidence the Government secured a majority of only 81-281 to zoo. The Government's normal strength is over 400 and the Opposition's 201, but many members, most of them Government supporters, are away on active service. What is significant is that on Wednesday more than 40 Government supporters voted with the Opposition. The division was neither necessary nor opportune. The debate itself was, as American and Swedish and other neutral papers have pointed out, a remarkable assertion of the principles and methods of democracy in war-time, but criticism and discussion without a vote would have suited the occasion best. One an- nouncement made by the Prime Minister on Tuesday calls for mention. Mr. Churchill, who had already succeeded to Lord Chatfield's function as chairman of the Military Co-ordinating Committee of the Cabinet, is now to "give guidance and direc- tion to the Chief of Staffs Committee." What precisely this involves is not quite clear, but the First Lord of the Admiralty, young and vigorous as his mind may be, has a body 65 years and there are limits to the burdens the human frame can bear. In the Government reconstruction that now seems inevit- able it is to be hoped that that truth will be borne in mind.
