IT MAY NOT have been obvious in recent months that
the men in charge of the Government's destinies have a sense of humour, but the choice of Government spokesman in the Salisbury-Suez debate shows that Lord Home, at least (assuming he made the choice) knows how to make the punishment fit the crime. He put up Lord Hailsham—who, it will be remembered, had a notable passage of arms with Lord Salisbury three years ago. This was over the TV Bill, when Lord Hailsham was the rebel and Lord Salisbury the pattern of orthodoxy. Lord Hailsham then said, proudly, `There is one treason to Parlia- mentary government which no adherent of it would willingly commit, and that is to withdraw or modify the terms of his censure either because of reluctance to face the consequences to him- self, or for fear of causing resentment amongst those whom he would prefer to think of as his friends.' But three years ago, Lord Salisbury felt rather differently about censures of the Govern- ment. `We are accustomed,' he said, `to the noble Viscount [Hailsham] in this House, and we do not pay too much attention to the words he uses, because his method of persuading us to his point of view is gratuitously to insult us in every speech he delivers (Noble Lords : Hear, hear !)' A little later Lord Salisbury added, `I think the noble Viscount is rather new to this House and he does not yet understand its ways, but no doubt he will in time.' Now, he does. Bultitude has changed places with Bultitude : the cane is in the other hand; and Lord Hailsham may be forgiven for having a little innocent fun at Old Sarum's ex- pense.
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