5 FEBRUARY 1927, Page 2

Political courage always deserves recognition and Mr. J., H. Thomas

certainly exhibited courage when he addressed a trade Union meeting on Tuesday. He declared that Sir Austen Chamberlain's speech was not only statesmanlike but was "a magnificent con. tribution to- peace." Many people, he said, assumed that the duty of the Opposition was to oppose the Government regardless of merits or consequences. He thought that not only a wrong attitude, but a mean one. If his hearers were satisfied that the Government's policy was , " just and equitable" they ought not to criticize merely in order "to get party cheers," but should let the world know that they supported a policy of which they really approved.