A SPECTATOR 'S NOTEBOOK
0 NE of the most cheering features of the House of Commons this week has been the return of the Foreign Secretary . to form. On the occasion of each of the last two or three of Mr. Bevin's speeches on foreign affairs there has been an obviously tired man at the box, reading mechanically in a tired voice from a manuscript. On Wednesday night nothing could have been more different. Arriving a little after the debate on Germany opened, because he had been talking with the American Ambassador, the Foreign Minister listened to almost the whole discussion, and rose at 9.15, looking better than he has for months, almost disregarding his manuscript, answering effectively questions previous speakers had put, getting in neat repartees, arguing the case for his policy quietly and convincingly, and ending on a note of firmness, con- ciliation and confidence. At one point Mr. Quintin Hogg interjected apropos of Abyssinia, " This is where I came in." The Foreign Secretary responded instantaneously, "That is where one of my predecessors went out." Another observation which reached its mark was, " When I'm out of office and I can write a book . . ." Mr. Bevin is clearly going to America thoroughly fit, and since a sea voyage always suits him, he will no doubt get to the other side even fitter.
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