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So far as scoring debating-points goes, the Government's reversal on the conscription-period is a gift for the Opposition ; but there was a certain astuteness in making the surprising announcement just as the House had risen for the Easter recess, so that there could be no immediate discussion in Parliament. Nor will there be for some time after the resumption for the Budget will occupy the first three Parliamentary days of next week, and it is unlikely that the Govern- ment will alter its arrangements for Friday in order to gratify the Opposition's eagerness for attack. There is no doubt that Ministers expected a heavier adverse vote in committee on the a-months versus 12-months issue than they had already sustained in the House, and it was clearly the prospect of that which led them, "after having again consulted the Chiefs of Staff," who, it may he assumed, had been insisting on the longer period as a minimum, to cut the r8 months to 12. The effect of the whole affair on the Government's prestige remains to be disclosed. The effect on one Minister's, Mr. Alexander's, will be serious. The weakness of his wind-up speech in the two-days' debate seriously disappointed Labour sup- porters, and his defence of the retreat at the Co-operative Conference five days later, with his admission that "the 18 months' period was one on which we were in agreement with the military experts on what was most desirable and necessary" (this last word should be noted), and that the decision to change was taken "in the light of the debate in the House of Commons," is hardly calculated to help.
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