20 SEPTEMBER 1946, Page 4

Mr. Harold Macmillan's persistence in his crusade for a new

party of progressive democrats (I hope that describes it adequately) is making rather heavy weather, though there is clearly something to be said for it. But was it accident or design that the first pro- clamation of the new evangel was launched from that fortress of em- battled democracy, Hatfield, and the second from a like fortress, Chatsworth? * * * *