But is the Prime Minister well served? Mr. Chamber- lain's
description of the Czech gold transfer as Mr. Lloyd George's mare's nest merely roused a hornet's nest around himself. Sir John Simon, using every ounce of his legal ability, was quite unable to persuade the House on the adjournment that the mare's nest was anything but a surrender of six million pounds' worth of Czech gold to Ger- many, even though it were beyond Treasury control. There was no doubt as to the feeling of the House on the transac- tion. Such a sound Government man as Mr. Gurney Braithwaite inveighed against the Bank for International Settlements, and it is obvious that, so far as Germany is concerned, members are determined that the Government shall have the powers and shall use them to put their wishes into effect or, as in this case, prevent them being circum- vented. Sir John Simon rightly exculpated Mr. Chamber- lain's reputation and the House placed the blame where it should lie. But this incident is not isolated. There is a suspicion that more than one Minister rides out of danger on half-truths, and that sometimes reliable information is discounted because it does not conform with Ministerial policy at the moment. More serious, the Prime Minister's immediate entourage does not inspire general confidence. * * *
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