- A SPECTATOR 'S NOTEBOOK
ALEADING article of unusual length in Tuesday's Times on politics in this country after the war put a fundamental problem, and a problem that will have to be solved, very clearly : " A ' coupon' election is ruled out by consent. But a free election is incompatible, for the time being at all events, with the existence of a coalition." There is food for a good deal of thought here. If there is not to be a coupon election—and the emphatic declaration on that point is welcome—then it must be assumed that the election will be fought on party lines. The Government, that is to say, would not go to the country as a Government, but there would be nothing to prevent the formation of a new National Government. when the new House had been elected. That course is eminently to be desired, for unity will be as imperatively needed for the first four or five years after the war as it is in these days of war. But what are to be the issues at the election, and who will frame the rival programmes? If all parties are to work together, they must be reasonably well agreed on principles and method. In that case individual contests between candidates fundamentally at one are inevitable. If, of course, the country can be shown to have declared decisively one way or the other on certain questions, such as the nationalisation of mines or railways, the new Government will have had clear directions given it. But to isolate particular questions out of a whole mass and declare that the result of the polling represents a clear verdict on them is rarely justifiable. One thing, no doubt, is certain, that the leaders of the party which holds most seats after the election will be asked to form a Government. The voting will determine that at any rate.
* * * * The Prime Minister acted wisely in emphasising, in his Mansion House speech, the possibility of new forms of attack on this country which might lay a heavy tax on fire:watchers and Home Guard. In neutral countries there is a firm belief that the Germans have almost completed some form of engine capable of throwing high explosives from the French coast some distance over England. The stories may be exaggerated, but they may not ; in responsible circles in this country there is no disposition to deride them. In any case, it is obviously necessary to be as fully prepared as possible, and obviously wise on the part of the Prime Minister to warn the country, and particularly London, of a development which, while it could in no way affect the issue of the war, might be capable of causing considerable damage and suffering. • * * *
Some mistaken deductions are being drawn from the announce- ment of Sir Arthur Salter's return to this country. It is being suggested that he has been specially summoned home by the Prime Minister, and the mention of a• farewell call on President Roosevelt is instanced as an indication of the importance attaching to Sir Arthur and his future activities. The fact, I believe, is that he is simply returning in the ordinary way because the work he went to Washington to do, having been done brilliantly, is now finished. Sir Arthur was in London for some time this summer, and made one highly important speech in the House of Commons on the shipping position. He then went back to Washington for a few weeks to wind up his work before returning finally. When he does get back he will be what is commonly called en disponibilite, for there is no real need for so strong a team as Lord Leathers, Sir Arthur Salter and Mr. Noel Baker at the Ministry
of War Transport. Salter's name is being freely mentioned in connexion with. a high post in the field of reconstruction. He would be equally valuable in connexion with national reconstruction—he was one of the architects of the original Insurance Acts before the last war—or international. It is not to be contemplated (and evidently is not being) that his remarkable combination of capacity and experience should be lost to the public service.
* * * *
I have received one or two minor compliments in my time, mostly undeserved, but the first real honour has only come my way this week, or rather has only come to a head this week. I have been invited by H.M.S. ' Janus' to become president of that gallant vessel's sports club. Not much may be said about ships of war in these days, but the facts officially published about the ' Janus' show that she is a destroyer of approximately tgoo tons, built in 1937. I gather from her commander that her crew want, in what- ever temperature they may be, to play football, and for that purpose ask me, in my new and distinguished role, to help them to secure " a set of 15 sports shirts or vests of some distinctive colour or colours and a similar number of shorts, about eight or ten of a stock medium size, the remainder a little smaller and a little larger, so as to provide for a Rugby XV ; secondly, any football boots, new or secondhand, in reasonable condition, sizes between 8 and IL" Well, I solicit contributions. These articles are out of stock at Gower Street at present, but some readers may be able and willing to help, though I foresee difficulty about 15 shirts of a uniform colour. With the assistance, if need be, of a few Sea Lords, I will undertake that the goods duly reach the ship which the said Lords (as I now realise) called after me six years ago.
* * * *
Good broadcasters are numerous ; ideal broadcasters are rare. Listening last Saturday to " The Week at Westminster," I felt that Miss Megan Lloyd George's title to a place in the latter category was indefeasible. The necessary qualifications, of course, include both manner and matter, and except that she spoke of Sir George Schuster as a former Home Member instead of a former Finance Member of the Viceroy's Council, her descriptive summary of a particularly interesting week in the House of Commons was admir- ably proportioned and objective. As for manner, the Member for Anglesey possess an unusually agreeable voice, which she handles with singular skill, pronunciation and modulation and pace being beyond criticism. I am told this is so whenever she speaks.
* * * *
Not quite enough public attention, I think, has been drawn to the report of a law case in last Saturday's papers. A firm of Court milliners was claiming from a Mrs. Richard Fairey and her husband for goods supplied to the former. The aspect of the case which calls for notice is indicated by the comment of Mr. Justice Lewis that "it was unfortunate that in 1940—the most critical year in the history of this country—there should be any woman content to spend with one dressmaker alone £749 between February and August." The word "unfortunate " is an outstanding example of judicial restraint. " Between February and August "—that period covered Dunkirk, the fall of France and the Battle of Britain. I hope some M.P. may have the curiosity to ascertain from Mr. Bevin what form of national service this lady is at present engaged in.
JANUS.
Previous page
