11 MAY 1934, Page 3

The House of Lords had a debate on foreign affairs,

which was mostly a desperate wish that something could be done to save the Disarmament Conference. There is no mistaking the feeling, which found some echo in the debate, that the Government will not escape repercussions of the failure of the Conference, because they have been too negatively if technically blameless. Later in the week the House wasted a deal of solemnity on Lord Salisbury's Bill to reform it. If there is to be a second Chamber, the present House of Lords could doubtless be improved, though it is far from despicable.