24 MAY 1940, Page 3

On Tuesday the House was undoubtedly somewhat shaken by the

news from France, and there was not a very good attendance for Mr. Malcolm MacDonald upon the introduction of the Colonial Development and Welfare Bill. On Wednesday, calmnesss had been restored and members were eager to give to Mr. Attlee and Sir John Anderson the extraordinary powers demanded by the Government to deal with the situation. There is an inevitable danger in such powers, especially when the House is in the mood to grant anything that may be asked. But the defenders of liberty are reconciled to the temporary sacrifice of some part of their charge in order to save the whole. They have also a well-grounded confidence in the Home Secretary.