The Week in Parliament Our Parliamentary Correspondent writes : The
Commons finished with a busy week, in which the high- light was the Air debate. Mr. Baldwin, from whom much had been expected, once again showed that when speaking to a brief he is not half the formidable orator which he is when he speaks from his own head. The truth seemed to be that the Government are convinced that contingent rearmament by this country is necessary as a warning to Nazi Germany. Mr. Baldwin did not like to say so in so many words, but his exclamation that the British air frontier was now the Rhine was taken to have this meaning, and the sentiment was powerfully confirmed by Sir John Simon, whose account of German aviation gave the impression of having a host of dangerous details in reserve: Mr. Churchill was particularly blunt, and gave such details in interro- gative form, but in assertive substance. Mr. Attlee and Sir Stafford Cripps were weak. They seem frightened of the Labour Party's commitment to support collective or League decisions with an effective contribution of British force. Sir Herbert Samuel was effective, but his analysis of the security of this country broke down, as he himself admitted that it might, if he is wrong in thinking that Nazi Germany is not dangerous. The best of the back-benchers was Mr. Bernays, who has a close acquaintance with Germany and strong left- wing tendencies, but supported the Government ; and Mr. Vyvyan Adams, who courageously opposed his leaders, on the general ground that rearmament was evil.
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