An absurd little debate was raised on Friday week in
the House of Commons, which seems to interest a groat many people. Mr. Eastwick wanted such officers as had clone great services to the wounded during the war to be allowed to receive foreign decorations. Lord Enfield, on behalf of the Government, refused, alleging that the existing severe rule, by which no such permis- sion can be given except in the rare case of service in the field with permission of the Queen, protected the Foreign Secretary from pressure and the State from intrigue. Mr. Eastwick, however, beat him by 48 to 47, and Mr. Gladstone had to demand another division, which reversed the previous one by 52 to 41, asserting, what is quite true, that if the rule is to be modified at all, it should be on some general. principle. The ambulance officers deserve high credit or even English decoration for "services to humanity," but we confess we should be sorry to see the Foreign-Office rule relaxed, and Englishmen swarming everywhere, intent on securing misunderstood bits of ribbon for exhibition in English drawing-rooms. The Times pleads the claim of the sevens, whom foreigners would decorate ; but if decoration is their due, cannot we found an Order of Thought for ourselves ?
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