16 NOVEMBER 1934, Page 6

After his Southampton speech the . Prime Minister will be watched

with new interest, for he has evidently recaptured a good deal of his lost vigour. His declaration on the private manufacture of armaments would very nearly satisfy Lord Cecil himself. Incidentally Mr. MacDonald provided the first reliable piece of evidence I have seen for the allegation that our men were shot down at Gallipoli by guns supplied by British firms. The Prime Minister's statement that he saw one authenti- cates the story definitely. Taken by itself, the Southamp- ton speech would suggest that Mr. MacDonald's thoughts are wandering back towards the Left whence he came. Further signs of nostalgia would arouse interesting speculations.