The first part of Mr. Chamberlain's speech dealing with Spain
was heavy going. He had a difficult case to defend, and he failed even to confute his supporters' doubts on the continuance of non-intervention. In the last few minutes, however, he read a prepared statement. His demand for peaceful deeds as well as words was welcomed in all parts of the House, and showed once again that unity on foreign policy is his for the asking. The Prime Minister's state- ment on the Rome visit was quite extraordinary ; most of it in the nature of a " bread-and-butter " letter. How he could have allowed himself to use such inept phrases as having the consent of Signor Mussolini to give his impressions to the House and the Duce's ability to intervene in favour of peace is incomprehensible. But the cheers from the Government benches when he appeared at question-time, and the early decease of the debate of which so much was expected, must have heartened him. It seemed a pity that what might be called the Eden point of view went unexpressed, but the debate was of an interim nature and no one imagined that the House has heard the last of Spain and non-intervention.
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