2 NOVEMBER 1945, Page 11

Monsieur Queval was so influenced by the impression of unity

which he derived, that he did not examine whether this sense of unity might not be based upon fictitious expectations. He did not face the problem of what happens to a people who have been used to being very rich when they suddenly become very poor. Our " deep civic instincts " may, after all, be little more than the result of a long process of habituation ; what happens if the crust of habit is cracked? The French are always impressed by the fact that we seldom allow our differences to become vociferous. I hope they are right in thinking that our restraint reflects deep popu'ar wisdom and not merely a national habit.