"In Parliamentary Debates," she wrote, "a good many other
Government supporters' have said as much, and after delivering their consciences by one bold speech have been driven like sheep into the Government lobby or slipped silently away when the divi- sion came ; thereafter to sit mute for a few months as on a penitents' form while the wrath of Party Whips subsides . . . Meanwhile they have saved their seats . . . So Safety First ! It is all quite under- standable."
I presume that in this passage Britomart is referring to those perplexed politicians who are described by the public (wholly incorrectly) as " The Eden group "; by their fellow members (with greater accuracy I hope) as " The glamour boys "; and by the Party Whips as " Those . . . ." " Yet although Miss Rathbone forgives us (feeble fellows though we be) she really does not understand. Even her facts are incorrect. Few of the abstentionists, or rebels, confined themselves to making " one bold speech." They spoke against Hoare-Laval; they spoke against the Italian Agreement; they spoke against Munich. Three of their number resigned office in protest. Nor did they all " slip silently away." On one occasion, at least, they remained upon the bench while the division was taken, looking like a row of angry china cows. Nor is it fair for Miss Rathbone to gibe at us to the tune of " Safety First ! " Since, if I may quote her own words. it is " all quite understandable."
* * * *
Previous page
