14 APRIL 1939, Page 6

Does the new Earl of Huntingdon (Francis John Clarence Westenra

Plantagenet Hastings) become the first Communist member of the House of Lords on the death of his father, which took place last week? That depends on whether he does, in fact, describe himself as a Communist, as I am told is the case. At any rate he studied as an artist under the Mexican Communist painter Rivera, and is responsible for the mural paintings at Marx House, Clerkenwell. It depends also on whether the claim is disputed by Viscount Churchill, who succeeded to his title in 1934. Lord Churchill stands well to the Left politically, but I am not sure whether he can be rightly termed Communist.