AT WESTMINSTER
WITH the estimates of the three services under discussion in the Commons and the debate on flogging in the Lords, Parliament this week left behind the tension of the first ten days. Return the tension must some day, but it can be regarded as banished until after the Budget. Thursday's debate on defence, now accepted as the indispensable overture to the discussion of the separate services, introduced the House of Commons to the new Minister of Defence, Mr. Shinwell, just as the debate on the Army estimates on Monday introduced it to the former Minister of Food, now appearing in his new role as successor to Cardwell, Haldane and Mr. Shinwell. The new Minister of Defence was hobbled to a brief which bore strong Alexandrine traces. He will probably be able to be himself next time. Mr. Churchill induced a serious mood in the House when he challenged thought about Germany's place in the Defence of Europe. Explaining that he spoke for himself alone, he gave it as his opinion that the long European front cannot be defended without the active assistance of Germany. Mr. Attlee replied that this was irresponsible talk. But if Mr. Churchill ever seemed to be labouring under a sense of responsi- bility it was in these remarks. From Fulton onwards Labour Ministers and Members have so often charged him with being irresponsible that the epithet, which at one time amused him, now even fails to register in his consciousness. At least, that is how it appears to the observer.
* * * * Mr. Strachey could not complain either on personal grounds or grounds of policy at his reception. The Opposition found nothing to quarrel at his analysis of the army's problem as turning on nothing so much as adequate recruiting for the regulars. Nor, for that matter, .did it question the wisdom of the changes in the structure of the Territorial Army in order to equip it to produce the required balanced reserve. On the personal side no Conservative seriously challenged his appointment to the War Office. A factious Opposition would hardly have been so fool- hardy. The only person to criticise it politically was the whimsical Left-winger, Mr. Emrys Hughes. That the man who had " written so well on Socialist theory " should now be engaged recruiting an army to fight Communism was an amusing thought to Mr. Hughes. Mr. Strachey laughed at his supposed ideological dilemma. As a voice of British Socialism, he pronounced it eminently fitting he should be engaged in recruiting for the cold war against the implacable enemies of British Socialism.
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There was a call to the 'House of Lords on Tuesday with its debate on flogging and, one might add, its always pleasing idiosyn- cracies. Writing some twenty years ago, J. A. Spender said the debates in the Upper House were always admirable, but the atmo- sphere was that of a ducal mansion with the duke lying dead upstairs. Remarkably enough, the social dilution of recent years has not changed that atmosphere as much as might have been expected. The genius of the place is very stubborn. The flogging debate was discreet and muffled. Perhaps it will be for ever impossible to be strident or aggressive while the lordly orator must refer now to " the noble marquis," now to " the right reverend prelate," or again to " the noble viscount on the Woolsack." Lord Jowitt settled the flogging issue out of hand. At the very outset he announced that the Government would not go back on abolition. The announcement was received with a wisp of a cheer. There was formidable support for the decision from two former Homo Secretaries, one Conservative, one Liberal, Lord Templewood and Lord Samuel, and from the Archbishop of York. Lord Lloyd and Lord Oaksey led the first day's fight for a return to flogging. Lord Jowitt was at his best. He delicately dissociated himself from Mr. Chuter Ede's belief that the pro-flogging people are sensa- tionalising present crimes of violence, and he equally delicately invited judges when passing sentence on violent criminals not to make remarks which, however unintentional, might appear to be
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