3 FEBRUARY 1939, Page 3

The Week in Parliament Our Parliamentary correspondent writes: The sole

topic of conversation when the House reassembled on Tuesday seemed to be Herr Hitler's speech of the night before. The new Ministerial appointments and the Cripps rebellion went almost uncommented on. The fact that the debate centred on Spain made it unreal, and except when the Prime Minister was speaking the Chamber was as empty as it usually is for a debate on unemployment. Mr. Attlee's matter was good, but his manner so much worse that one wondered why he had been desirous of summoning Parliament earlier. He seemed quite incapable of indignation, and gives the im- pression of fear lest any words of his should rouse a storm. The Labour Opposition lend their spokesmen no encourage- ment and their Parliamentary weapons are limited to inter- ruptions and interjections. These have the natural effect of rallying the Government supporters, and the Front Bench have learnt to make the most of them. Mr. Chamberlain has to appeal for a hearing almost every time he speaks ; he did so on Tuesday ; this throws him out of stride, and surpris- ingly he does not appear to welcome response to his own taunts.