1 MARCH 1924

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On Wednesday Mr. Ronald McNeill, not being satisfied with the

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Prime Minister's repudiation of Mr. Henderson, moved the adjournment. In the following debate Mr. MacDonald showed no lack of courage, and laid it down that Ministers must speak...

M. Poincare at the end of several anxious debates has

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come through with small majorities, which some observers describe as a victory, but which are truly much more like defeat. He has staved off the danger, as he considers it, of a...

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

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T HE Government have satisfactorily overcome difficul- ties which, with less skilful management than these received from the Prime Minister, might have involved the downfall of...

Yet another danger which the Prime Minister has evaded was

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caused by the indiscreet speech of Mr. Hender- son, the Home Secretary, at Burnley. Mr. Henderson said that the revision of the Treaty of Versailles was " an absolute...

The recent announcement by M. Poineare that higher taxes were

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to be levied in a way defeated his purpose, for it was also a tacit declaration that the Ruhr policy had failed. Frenchmen in thousands began to desert the franc and by dollar...

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The Riga correspondent of the Times said in Tuesday's paper

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that Moscow Communists are taking " pre- cautionary measures " against the de jure recognition of their country by Great Britain. This recognition, they declare, is a danger to...

On Sunday, February 17th, the Swiss people at a Referendum

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voted against the proposal that the Federal Council should be given the power to increase the 48-hours working week. The most active and powerful opponents of the Bill were the...

The dock strike is. happily settled. The terms accepted by

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the men were (1) an increase of wages by 2s. a day, ls. to be payable immediately, and the second from June 1st. This was instead of 2s. immediately as was. originally demanded....

When the debate on the motion for the adjournment came

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on, however, the storm soon passed away. The Prime Minister explained that the motion was the result of a misunderstanding, since there had never been any idea of laying down a...

Although the expert committees have not yet reported, it seems

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almost certain that a very important proposal will be made for an international loan secured on the German railways. Apparently half of the proceeds of this loan, which may be...

There is every reason to hope that the moderate trade

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recovery which seems to be on its way will not be impeded again by J.slianr trouble at the ports. There is, however, one matter to which not enough public attention has been...

On the same day in the House of Commons the

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Government played the part of a Daniel come to judg- ment, when they recommended a further loan of £8,500,000 for Sudan development. Only a year ago• the Prime Minister was...

In the House of Commons on Thursday,. February 21st, a

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storm suddenly blew up when Mr. Ammon, Parlia- mentary Secretary to the Admiralty, announced that the Government had decided to build five cruisers and two destroyers. Not only...

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The anxiously awaited debate on Poplarism took place in the

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House of Commons on Tuesday. The self- possession shown by Mr. Wheatley, the Minister of Health, who stood up to his critics and met attack by counter-attack, and was never at a...

In the House of Lords on Tuesday, Lord Olivier, the

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Secretary of State for India, stated that Indian affairs were causing the Government great anxiety. The manifesto of the Swaraji Party was based on a belief that was " mistaken,...

Bank Rate, 4 per cent., changed from 3 per cent.

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July 5, 1923 ; 5 per cent. War Loan was on Thursday, 1001 ; Thursday week, 109k ; a year ago, 96k.

* * * * We notice that some of the

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Irish Free State papers are trying to make capital out of the article by Sir James Craig which we published last week. One of them has remarked that it is strange that, although...

Nevertheless all ended well in the debate, for the Prime

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Minister was careful not to identify himself with Poplarism. In reply to Mr. Asquith's questions he categorically stated that illegal expenditure would not be sanctioned, that...

It was actually being urged by Indians to-day, Lord Olivier

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continued, that the British had no right to be in India. The truth was that no home rule or national movement whatever would be possible in India, had it not been for the work...

The very heavy damages of £25,000 awarded by a jury

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against Dr. C. H. Bond (a Commissioner in Lunacy) and Dr. G. H. Adam, who were sued by Mr. Harnett for illegally detaining him as a lunatic when he was in fact sane, are a...

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TOPICS OF THE DAY.

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UNIVERSAL. INSURANCE. A SUBSTITUTE FOR SOCIALISM. W HATEVER view we take of the merits in the Poplar case, one thing is certain—the speeches of the leaders on all sides were...

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THE FACE OF EUROPE.

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T HE face of Europe is changing, and unless some untoward event intervenes the change should be beneficent. The good turn was taken when the French Government yielded to the...

THE OTHER SIDE:

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T HERE is a story of one of the new Cabinet Ministers that his first step on taking office was to summon his heads of departments, and ask each of them to give him a sketch of...

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TRAINING THE MISTRESS.

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BY A COOS.. B EFORE undertaking work as a domestic servant I had had considerable experience, as a member of the family, as guest, or as mistress, in a variety of...

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METHUSELAH AND MR. SHAW.

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R ACK TO METHUSELAH, like Man and Superman, is a dramatic parable of creative evolution. In presenting his earlier parable, Mr. Shaw now confesses that he was guilty of certain...

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THE

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ENGLISH-SPEAKING WORLD BY EVELYN WRENCH. T HEWinnipeg Free Press publishes a leading article on the subject of the powers of the Imperial Con- ference. Taking. as its theme...

However much some of the readers of the Spectator may

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disagree with Mr. Thomas's views on economic problems they will surely support his opinion that the English-speaking peoples are determined to apply their ideals and common...

It is my lot to attend many public dinners in

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con- nexion with my work, and I have a lively sympathy with those who cordially dislike functions of this kind. If all public gatherings were as pleasant as the large ban- quet...

On several occasions I have referred in these notes to

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the determination of the American people yet further to limit the number of immigrants permitted to land in their country each year. The present law permits some 350,000...

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Certainly, as far as opinion in France is concerned, there

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has been a tendency in recent years to look, to an increasing extent, towards North Africa, both from the economic and the military standpoint. Speakers in France nowadays no...

The Portmadoc Players played their triple bill to a full

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house at their matinee on Tuesday at the Lyric, Hammer- smith. The chief quality of their performance was to me atmospheric. It was delightful to move in the world that they...

Matters connected with Northern and Equatorial Africa have been much

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in the public eye of late. First, there was the recent Tangier settlement. Last year we had the crossing of the Sahara by the mechanically- propelled vehicles of the Citroen...

On the economic side France is leaving no stone un-

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turned to develop the resources of her African Empire and to make France and the French colonies independent of the outside world. Plans for the construction of the trans-Sahara...

The situation in the French Colonial dependencies and in the

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British oversea dependencies is, therefore, entirely different, for in no British dependency is con- scription in force. The problems raised by the French policy of dependence...

THE THEATRE.

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"FAUST" AT THE " OLD VIC." GOETHE wrote most of the Faust which the Old Vic. has shown us, at the end of the eighteenth century. He was a young man, and the piece was for long...

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[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—I. am in receipt

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of your letter and the proof of the article, "A Civic Sense in England ?" which you enclosed. I am in full agreement with what the writer says.—I am, Sir, &c., W. T....

[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]

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Sin, —Why will Mrs. Williams-Ellis keep on libelling Bristol in your. pages ? It is neither " smoky " nor " dreary," but a city 'of exceptionally clear skies with an abundance...

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

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A CIVIC SENSE IN ENGLAND? [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sin,—You have an article on "A Civic Sense in England ? " in the Spectator for February 23rd, in which you ask a...

[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]

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Sin,—One welcomes your capital article on the lack of civio sense, but it is written from the point of view of the superior person who belongs to the class who can get away...

[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]

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Sia,—The article by Mrs. Williams-Ellis in your last issue forcibly reminds me of an incident that occurred to me some years ago. Having been invited to address the British...

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[To the Editor of the SPECTAToR.] SIR,—There is doubtless much

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to be said for the argument so ably set - forth in your columns by the Dean of St. Paul's. But with all respect to so learned a divine, there is something revolting in the way...

DEAN INGE ON THE POPULATION QUESTION.

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[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR, — It is with some misgiving that I find myself in disagree- ment with such an eminent authority as Dean Inge ; but his article ou the...

[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—Everything that Dean Inge

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writes is worth reading. But, on the other hand, nothing that Malthus has written is worth reading. John Stuart Mill upon " Malthus " may be worth reading. The general statement...

[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]

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SIR,—The article " The Population Question," which appears in your paper dated February ,16th, is calculated to arouse public interest in a subject which is hardly receiving,...

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THE ENGLISHMAN'S PRAYER-BOOK.

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[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—If the laymen are so sincerely enamoured of the old Prayer-book it is difficult to understand why, as a matter of common clerical...

THE DOCKERS' STRIKE.

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[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—Some of the methods employed in the late strike arc so amazing that many of us are wondering under what laws we are living. It has been...

[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—All who cherish the

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noble ideal of a National Church sufficiently comprehensive to represent the religious views of the average Christian man, and at the same time sufficiently homogeneous to have...

THE FUTURE OF CONSERVATISM.

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[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—I would 'suggest dropping, if possible, the name " Con- servative " and certainly its traditional idea, for it suggests too much the...

THE BATTLE OF JUTLAND.

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[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—The article in the Spectator of February 16th, signed Robert Boothby, may, like a certain brand of cocoa, be grateful and comforting to...

INCOME TAX AND RESIDENCE ABROAD.

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[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—With reference to Major-General T. D. Pilcher's letter in your issue of the 9th instant, I quite agree that the Inland Revenue...

PENSIONS - FOR MOTHERS.

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[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sia,—The Chancellor of the E7ichequer has announced that the Government has instituted an inquiry into the question of the provision of...

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MR. COPPARD, MR. BULLETT, AND KATHERINE MANSFIELD. [To the Editor

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of the SPECTATOR.] SIR, —Perhaps I may be allowed to join in the discussion now raging with such nightingale ferocity between Mr. Roger Buckworth and Mr. A. E. Coppard, even...

MR. BELLOC'S POEMS. [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sin,—"

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The great advantage of this collection of Mr. Belloc's poetical works," your reviewer tells us, in his notice of February 9th, " is that there is scarcely any poetry in it at...

DO ESKIMOS DRINK OIL?

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[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—I have been considerably surprised by Mr. Stefansson's recent article to the effect that Eskimos do not drink oil. I had certainly been...

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ANALYSIS OF THE LABOUR PARTY.

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[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] regret that Mr. Emanuel should feel hurt. Far be it from me to class patriotic English Jews with foreigners ; but are not the Jewish Labour...

EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS.

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THE OMNIBUS STRIKE AND HOUSING.—MIS. Gilchrist- Thompson, of Hayes Rectory, Kent, writes : " The late omnibus strike was closely connected with the ever present and menacing...

POETRY.

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NOCTURNE. SEE how the dying west puts forth her song, Soft stars for requiem, hung bosom-low, Riding like sorrow as day breathes her last With deep-drawn sigh. The wintry...

" THE. TIRED. AUNT AND THE CURSING NIECE."

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[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—Here is a. story conveyed to me by a friend. Whether fact, fiction, or ben trovato, it is certainly an excellent example of the way in...

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BOOKS OF THE MOMENT.

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A TORRENT OF TRANSLATION. The Idylls of Theocritus. With the Fragments of Bion and Moschus. Translated by J. H. Mallard, M.A., Oxon. Fourth Edition. Broadway Translations....

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MR. MASEFIELD COLLECTED.

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THERE are a few poets of our time who have some claims upon the notice of posterity, not merely because of an odd poem or two, but because of the fine quality of their general...

BOOKS.

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THIS WEEK'S BOOKS. TI U is not much of literary interest among the books published this week, but Mr. Frank Harris at last gives us a new book of short stories, Undream'd of...

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CHRISTOLOGY OF THE EARLY CHURCH.

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ENGLISH theologians are few and far between. This is more particularly the case since theology has ceased to be a deduc- tive science. The English mind has great qualities ; but...

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BRITAIN AND AMERICA.

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THE two books to be considered here are of rather more than usual interest in their category. Working towards approxi- mately the same end, the authors have written from exactly...

ARISTOTLE.

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Ix this volume Mr. Ross, the editor of the Oxford translations of Aristotle, has " tried simply to give an account of the main features of his philosophy as it stands before us...

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FICTION:

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A TRUE FICTION. Tam study by the- author of Lea Silences du. Colonel' Bramble is an excellentexample of a type of•book which the American or English writer can hardly achieve...

THE PATRICIAS.

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THE Patricias, as they preferred to be called.—even " Pip Pips " was preferable to the vulgarism of " Princess Pats "- were the 'first of the Dominion contingents to reach the...

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SHORTER NOTICES.

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THE PSYCHOLOGY OF EDUCATION. By D. Kennedy. Fraser. (Methuen. 68. Eid. net.)_ When Dr. Dreyer published his admirable Introduction to the Psychology of Education last year, he...

OTHER NOVELS.—January. By Katharine Pleydell- Bouverie. (Heinemann. 7s. 6d. net.)—The

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inconveniences of uncle and niece falling in love with each other, which are dwelt on in this novel, are rather a non-conductor to the sympathies of the reader. The discovery of...

Mr. Shane Leslie's novel has a two-fold interest—the interest of

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fact and the interest of fiction, incompatibles that mingle more easily in the Celtic twilight than elsewhere. . To appre- ciate fully the historical aspect of Doomsland, one...

There is a kind of familiarity that breeds expectation rather

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than contempt, and on this emotion the periodical essay floated through the eighteenth century. Defoe, Addison, Fielding and Goldsmith bequeathed their charm to Lamb. Hazlitt...

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These suggestive essays are the antithesis of the Daily Mail.

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Not that their author, like the Pope, is always right ; nor, though one would like to think so, that Lord Rothermere is always wrong. But the manner of approach and the...

FINANCIAL NOTES.

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On the whole it may be said that English railway dividends have pretty well fulfilled expectations, and now that the dockers' strike is over it may fairly be hoped that the...

This new volume, the fourth devoted to Essex, which is

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the result of the extremely valuable and interesting labours of the Historical Monuments Commission, deals with that part of Essex which is bounded on the south by the Thames as...

FINANCE-PUBLIC & PRIVATE.

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[By OUR CITY EDITOR.] CHEERFUL MARKETS. [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—What may be termed the inherent buoyancy of markets is very well demonstrated in the latest of...