10 JUNE 1938, Page 3

The Prime Minister's argument that such a Ministry woull serve

no useful purpose unless invested with full wartime powers has failed to carry general conviction. Moreover, the debates which have taken place on civil and military aviation have inevitably shaken the confidence of Government supporters. In politics time often brings its revenges with remarkable rapidity. From the General Election of 1935 until the autumn of last year the Govern- ment's rearmament programme, and its determination to make all necessary provision for the expansion of the defence services, constituted its trump electoral card. Yet today it is precisely their handling of these questions that gives rise to the most damaging criticism that they have to encounter.

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