The Week in Parliament Our Parliamentary correspondent writes: It was
not until Wednesday that the House was given any information on the subject which, in spite of the importance of the Defence debates, has interested them most in the last few days. The indecisiveness of our relations with Russia almost over- shadowed the conscription measure, and it has certainly affected the discussions on it. The " anti-Red at any price " party must be very small, but the majority on the Govern- ment benches would only be compelled by stern necessity to accept a Russian alliance. Sir Henry Page Croft's statement, on Wednesday, that the British people were not anxious to be permanently allied with Russia showed how difficult the task of the Russophils is. Rumours of what the Foreign Office wants and what Downing Street is doing are many, and Mr. Chamberlain did himself no harm by Wednesday's statement. There was, however, even after this, a lingering doubt which has partly been engendered by the answers which he has given on the subject. The Opposition believe firmly in his ideological distaste for Russian friendship. But it is, as Mr. Dalton said, the rate of progress of the negotia- tions which excites alarm. His suggestion that Lord Halifax should go to Moscow was not regarded by everyone as quite so foolish as some of the Tories seemed to find it. If we are to have an agreement, it is best that we should have it quickly. All our defence preparations may be upset if the negotiations go wrong.
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