The Week in Parliament Our Political, Correspondent writes : Members
are still speculating as .to the reasons that induced Sir Austen Chamberlain to end his remarkable speech on the Bill to create a Ministry of Defence with the reminder that " The Prime Minister had twice stood at the table of this House within the last two years, to ask the pardon of the House." No man in public life is more disinterested and less petty-minded than Sir Austen, and it is unthinkable that, as has been suggested, he has any personal animus against the Prime Minister because he was not himself offered the office of Foreign Secretary. Presumably his object was to warn the Government that the House would not tolerate any further blundering in foreign affairs and in the vital question of defence. Sir Austen's policy has always been one of vigorous defence of the Covenant coupled with swift and searching plans for rearmament. He has been profoundly disturbed at the weakness and Vacillation of the Government in both these directions.
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