In the House of Lords on Wednesday Lord Peel moved
the second reading of the Irish Free State (Agreement) Bill. He thought that the Provisional Government in Ireland was slowly gaining strength. Lord Sumner made it plain that he disliked the Treaty, but nevertheless, felt that the word of the Govern- ment had been pledged and that it would-be impossible to go back. Ile hoped that, in spite of the apparent refusal of the -Government to alter a word of the Bill, it would be permissible in Committee to make it a more workmanlike instrument. Lord Lansdowne, whom everybody was pleased to hear speaking again in the House of Lords, showed himself as much as ever in -possession of the "Loft Centre" mind—the mind of the man who, while -wanting to preserve what is good, is open to new ideas and, above all, knows -when to give way.
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