Mr. Chamberlain has staked his reputation on the Italian treaty
and its failure would be obviously damaging. The return of Lord Runciman in a few months time, bringing with him a completed agreement, would, equally obviously, be a notable triumph for the policy of appeasement. It may be surmised that an autumn General Election would not then be out of the question. As for the Sandys case, the secrets of the Select Committee have been well guarded, and no prophecy can be based on anything more than conjecture. But rumours have inevitably been rife respecting the facts into which the Committee has been enquiring, and the conduct of the principal actors. It is safe to say that the mzjority of Members, at any rate on the Government side, will be surprised if the report contains anything in the way of censure on the Secretary of State for War or the Prime Minister.
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