On Tuesday afternoon in the Commons, in Committee of Supply
on the vote for the Army, Mr. Amery moved a reduc- tion of the vote on the ground of the War Minister's failure to do his duty to his colleagues and the Army. The only "mis- understanding" was that the War Minister misunderstood the temper of officers and gentlemen. Mr. John Ward, the Labour Member, who followed, seconded the amend- ment on very different grounds. He protested vehemently against militarist intervention with Parliament, and was cheered for full three minutes by the clock by Liberals, Labour Members, and Nationalists on saying that be rejoiced that the Tory Party had made the issue plain. "It is, are the people of this country free to make their laws absolutely without interference from either King or Army ?" Mr. Beck, a Liberal Member, spoke with equal passion. The whole of representative government was in danger. Liberals had to submit their Bills three times to the House of Lords, and now they were asked to submit them also to final revision by a general officer of the Army. "Officers resign one day, they come over to London, and are reinstated after visiting the War Office "—" and Buckingham Palace," interjected Mr. Wedgwood.
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