In the foreground of the controversy stands the Prime Minister's
assertion that he sees no reason to anticipate another crisis in the near future. His critics, on the other hand, are of the opinion that Herr Hitler will almost cer- tainly stage another trial of nerves within the next few weeks. The Government also contend that to summon the House for the last week of August would have an unsettling effect upon the country, and would be interpreted in Berlin as a proof that our nerves are in fact becoming frayed. The critics disagree with this contention. The country sees no reason why Members of Parliament should not sacrifice their holidays as others are doing ; upon the Germans the re- current vigilance of the House of Commons would act as a deterrent. In the background of the controversy hangs a righteous dread of secret diplomacy. The House of Com- mons do not wish to be faced, as they were faced last September, with a crisis the preliminary stages of which will have been decided without their knowledge or consent. They fear lest the inevitable imprecisions of a dual policy may expose this country to the charge of diplomatic duplicity. Had the House, for instance, been unable to ex- tort from the Government a precise definition of the scope of the Tokyo formula, that ambiguous document might have continued to mean something wholly different to each of the contracting parties. Elucidation, in that instance, was essential ; if the House adjourns for two months there will be no opportunity, in other instances, for similar elucidation.
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