Spectator's Notebook
Writ not one to wish politicians to be mealy- mouthed or to deny them the intoxication of rhetoric, but I do think that they should occa- sionally look over their shoulder to see how their Words are likely to be taken abroad. That Douglas Jay should describe the Treaty of Rome as the most reactionary document' published in the last hundred years may only arouse specula- tion in Britain as to his knowledge of history and of the Treaty of Rome, but when published abroad it produces an effect of wild and chauvin- istic nationalism which can do no good to this country, the Labour Party or Mr. Jay. If Mr. Gaitskell forced a general election and won it, then a Labour Government (in which presumably Mr. Jay would hope to hold some office con- nected with economic affairs) would have to undertake negotiations of some sort with the Six. What chance is there of such negotiations being conducted amicably and successfully by anyone who has compared a policy of agreement with the Community to 'appeasement' and the terms arrived at in Brussels to those of Munich? If Mr. Jay ever became President of the Board of Trade (or Lord Privy Seal), he might not go to Munich, but he would very soon have to go to Canossa.
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