Mr. Clynes admitted that Mr. Boner Law's speech was re-
assuring, but expressed suspicion of Mr. Churchill's newspaper articles which, he said, had done most to bring the " Council of Action " into existence. He complained of the secrecy attend- ing the Allied conferences.. We had no written Constitution, except for the League of Nations which was part of the Con- stitution. If the Government refused to use that par t, which made for peace, " the workmen in this country must not forfeit their right to strike if in the legal exercise of that right war could be prevented." " It might be necessary to take Direct Action at times. There was something even greater than one's reading of the Constitution, and that was the peace of the world." Mr. Clynes's involved argument showed that he found it difficult to justify even to himself the revolutionary tactics of the " Coun- cil of Action " which he was induced to join. In the Evening Standard of Wednesday, we may note, Mr. Clynes expressed the belief that the " Council " is only a temporary body with a special purpose, and that " its chief work has already been done."
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