The Week in Parliament
Our Parliamentary correspondent writes : The new attack that has been launched on the Foreign Secretary- ship of Sir John Simon has its roots in the fear felt on all hands at the rapid worsening of theinternational situation. The position is now so serious that members feel that they ought not any longer to listen to appeals to remember -the consequences that may accrue from disturbing the existing balance of Party representation. In the Cabinet it is argued that Sir John Simon not merely fails to inspire confidence, but that he speaks for no body of opinion at -home on foreign affairs. In spite of the fact that he is an excellent platform apologist of the general record of the Government, and is therefore useful to Government Liberals, even the Simonites demonstrate little enthusiasm for him. What makes the new revolt particularly formidable is that Sir Austen Chamberlain has associated 'himself with it. Sir Austen has established for himself such a position on the back benches that the Government could scarcely survive an open declaration from him of hostility towards them. Not that there is any marked reluctance on the part of Sir John's Cabinet colleagues to part with him. The only event. that could save him now would be an outburst of criticism so violent that the National Government for the sake of its prestige would be compelled to stand by him.
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