Mr. Attlee, in the vote of censure debate on Wednesday,
made a speech more difficult for the Government to answer than any that has come from the Opposition benches in this Parliament, and at the end he received a thoroughly deserved ovation from his Party. It was listened to by the Government supporters in uneasy silence, though the great majority were convinced that the Government, in view of the inevitable repercussions of forcing an entrance into Bilbao upon the whole future of the policy of non-intervention, has acted with commendable prudence, they realise that so far as the political controversy is concerned the best debating arguments are with the Opposition. The effect of Mr. Attlee's speech was, however, somewhat spoiled by the constant interruptions to which Sir John Simon, in his reply, was subjected. Sir John is fully equal to a situation where feeling is running high, but even he found it difficult to expound a connected argument in that uproar. But it was a courageous performance which satisfied many doubting supporters.
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