The Week in Parliament Our Parliamentary correspondent writes : Sir
John Simon made; in the -debate on -the Private Manufacture of Armaments, what many supporters of the Government believe to be the wnrst speech of his -career as Foreign Secretary. It exhibited an absence, remarkable in so eminent a lawyer, of a sense of 'atmosphere. Major Attlee had opened with a speech that was dignified and restrained and unprovocative. The. depth of feeling of the House was proved by the unusually large attendance that his speech attracted and the frequent appeals to him to speak up. Then came Sir. John, long-winded. vehement, theatrical, dragging in the name of the King in order to heighten his effects, seizing every opportunity to make Party scores. Ile said so little about the Govern- ment ' policy that it was left for Sir Archibald Sinclair, who lead for the Liberals, to state exactly what the Government had done in regard to this question at Geneva. Mr. Baldwin did his best in a good-humoured and well-balanced speech at the close to redeem the Government's position, but it was felt that the contri- bution of Sir John Simon was one that may do permanent harm to the Government in the country. This impression has been confirmed by members who visited their con- stituencies during the Armistice week-end.
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