Journalists are not given to bringing libel actions against one
another, which on the whole is just as well. The Li,000 awarded to Mr. F. A. Voigt of the Nineteenth Century and his associates against Mr. Cedric Belfrage of the News Chronicle and his asso- ciates indicated that Mr. Justice Birkett took a very dec:ded view of the comments made on Mr. Voigt in the News Chronicle. But a rather serious question lies behind this. The most forcible strictures on Mr. Voigt and his journal were made by Mr. Brendan Bracken, who, speaking as Minister of Information in the House of Commons, used language which, if employed on any but a privi- leged occasion, would certainly have been calculated to provoke proceedings for libel—though, of course, not necessarily successful proceedings. It is no doubt right that speeches in the House of Commons should be privileged, but it should be an obligation of honour never to use the privilege except under the fullest sense of responsibility. The danger of injustice is obvious.
No great surprise can be felt at Lord Lovat's resignation of the post of Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Foreign Office, given him on the formation of the " Caretaker " Government. It was a strange appointment, for while Lord Lovat is a soldier of remark- able distinction, he has never displayed qualities calculated to fit him for the post of spokesman for the Foreign Office in the House of Lords. Lord Dunglass, who was Joint Parliamentary Under- Secretary, remains, but it cannot be pretended that he comes near filling the place of Mr. Richard Law, transferred to the Board of Education. If the election results are such as to keep Mr. Eden at the Foreign Office, he will need first-class assistance in view of the double burden he has to carry. * * * *
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