The Week in Parliament
Our Parliamentary correspondent writes: The House has got into the habit of meeting expectantly every week to hear the Prime Minister's report on the progress of the war. Herr Hitler's speech at Danzig on Tuesday heightened the interest in Mr. Chamberlain's statement last Wednesday. No one seems quite determined in his mind as to the ideal form which these statements should take. They add nothing new to what has already been heard over the wireless or read in the newspapers, and although, as in Wednesday's case, opportunity is taken to add a few lines on the nature of Government policy they are quite obviously not intended as declarations of major importance. Mr. Chamberlain's manner is vigorous, and the language employed, in some respects, falls short of it. But temporarily, these weekly progress reports satisfy the House, though already requests are being made for debates when all the chief Government Departments may be surveyed in turn. There are some who feel that the time has already arrived for a secret session. Comment on the War Office is far-reaching, though everyone recognises that much of it can never be voiced in open debate. Mr. Chamberlain answered Herr Hitler by saying, in so many words, " We know what is coming to you, and when." His remark that Britain was not to be put off her pre-arranged plan did not, however, wholly re-assure those who feel that the prosecution of the war has been unnecessarily delayed. * * * *
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