The Week in Parliament Our Parliamentary Correspondent writes : Parliament
ended with a most useful electioneering speech for the Governthent by, of all People, Mi. Winston Churchill. His claim that the League had already justified itself in an arresting manner was very effective. " Here," he said, " are fifty sovereign States solemnly sitting _down together to devise and concert 'hostile .cconomic action 'against a great Power,' Prohibiting the export of arms to 'Italy, encouraging Snell export to Italy's enethy, taking: 'concerted` measiires "to destroy Italian credit and financial strength in 'every quarter of the globe, laying an embargo on 'many' kinds of exports to ItalY, and even attempting a complete 'boycott of Italian imports into each country." " Already," he contended, " we are in the presence of a memorable event." It was almost the only occasion in the debate when a real tribute was paid to the way in which the League had faced up to the might of Mussolini. Mr. Churchill's name is being freely mentioned as the successor to, Sir Bolton Eyres Monsell as First Lord of the. Admiralty, and the speech was regarded in some quarters, as being deliberately aimed at making, such an appointment easier for Mr. Baldwin to propose. This is 'an unfair criticism, as Mr. Churchill, ever since ,the inter- national situation worsened, has always taken a strong line in favour of collective. action. At the same time there is little doubt that Mr. Churchill, if offered the Admiralty after the Election, would be very willing to accept it. The task of rebuilding the Fleet that lie himself did so much to:create in the years before the War would be very much to his liking..
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