Mr. Bonar Law then went on to speak most reasonably,
yet at the same time firmly, about his refusal to receive a deputation of the unemployed who had, recently flooded London. He had acted on the principle that a Prime Minister " could not do everything," and that the proper work of each Department should be recognized and observed. All alleviations of unemployment must be carried out by "the ordinary methods of Govern- ment." Being convinced that he was right, he was "determined to adhere to his decision." He had been accused in several newspapers of having " doped " the Press. What had happened was that he had sent information to the Press about the attitude of the Com- munist leaders of the unemployed, and he had done it deliberately, because he believed that in this country public opinion must be met and satisfied. He had supplied the same information to all the London news- papers to the effect that there was considerable danger of a riot. He naturally wanted to prevent rioting, and he thought, and still thought, his course was the right one.
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