My husband's great Act
From Lady Butler Sir: Peter °borne (Politics, 1 February) uses the word 'disgraceful' in alluding to my husband's political career. I learn that he is referring to the time of the Munich crisis in 1938, before he himself was born, when pejorative words like appeaser were flying about, with accusations against anyone opposed to the idea of another world war.
Rab was not an appeaser; he was a pragmatist who realised that, owing to the Baldwin government's failure to re-arm, this country was not prepared for the war against Germany which seemed sadly inevitable.
That year of 1938-39 was vital for us to get ready. We did so and finally were victorious, though to many who lived through it, like myself, it seemed at times a close-run thing. I should like to remind Mr Oborne that during some of the darkest days of that very dark time Rab — unfit for active service because of a faulty right arm — piloted through the House of Commons his Educa tion Act of 1944 which will always be known as the Butler Act.
Would that the faith in the future which he showed could be among us in these uncertain times today.
Mollie Butler
Great Yeldham, Essex
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