The Italian telegram accepting the British formula on Spain, which was received by Count Grandi before Mr. Eden had resigned but which was not handed to the Prime Minister until the resignation was known, was the cause of a scene of uproar in the House of Commons this evening. Mr. Lloyd George by implication charged Mr. Chamberlain with conduct ╥of which any Prime Minister would be ashamed.╙ Mr. Chamberlain denied the charge fiercely amid boos and cheers; and Mr. Eden, who was sitting a bench or two behind the Government Front Bench, intervened in the debate to elucidate a point which Mr. Chamberlain had made.
Great excitement stirred the House. There was clamour from all sides. Opposition members shouted ╥Resign! Resign!╙ and it looked for a moment as if the Government would be severely shaken by the event. But there were many members ready to accept any sign of boldness from Mr. Chamberlain, and when he had spoken to justify himself they stormed at Mr. Lloyd George to withdraw his charge of disgraceful conduct. Mr. Lloyd George was exhorted to stand firm. He needed no encouragement. Thumping the dispatch-box and shaking his head, he said he would not withdraw.
There was a further interchange of views between Mr. Lloyd George and the Prime Minister, glaring at each other bellicosely across the table, but eventually it appeared that Mr. Lloyd George had misunderstood slightly the course of the manoeuvring between the Italian Embassy and Downing Street. Nothing, however, shook him from the view, which must have been apparent to the whole House, that the incident ╥shows the muddled way in which the business has been
handled.╙
TURMOIL
Not for a long time has there been so much turmoil in the House, nor, indeed, an issue which has exposed so clearly the cleavage of interest among members. Mr. Chamberlain undoubtedly interprets the true mind of many Conservatives-sceptical about the League of Nations, unimpressed by idealism, comfortable only in the company of States who are firmly ╥anti-Red.╙ But it had been a trying day for these Conservatives.
In defence of his own policy Mr. Chamberlain was more aggressive than ever. It was humbug to pretend that any Power would agree to negotiate on the condition that it should first say how sorry it was for what it had done.
Sir Archibald Sinclair tried to make Mr. Chamberlain see that there was some point in asking Italy to honour existing agreements before entering into new ones, but Mr. Chamberlain declared that no business was possible on those lines.
Mr. Chamberlain referred to the election pledges and said frankly that conditions had changed so much since then that a policy of collective security through the League was quite impracticable. The sooner the League admitted this the better, so that it might have a chance of regaining respect and authority.
Mr. Chamberlain╒s speech pleased his supporters, but it was the last grain of comfort they got for a very long time.
MR. CHURCHILL╒S ATTACK
Mr. Churchill added to the discomfiture of the Government with a masterly presentation of facts and a notable tribute to the work and qualities of Mr. Eden. Last week had been a good week for the dictators ╤ one of the best they ever had. It would be believed, though it was not true, that Mussolini╒s superior power had secured Mr. Eden╒s withdrawal. ╥I cannot contemplate the arrival of our envoy at Rome without a pang of bitter humiliation which will be re-echoed in millions of cottages at home and throughout the world.╙
It had been a good week for Hitler, too. Were the events in Austria the fruits of Lord Halifax╒s ╥mission or excursion╙ to Germany, which was to open a great new movement of co-operation? The history of recent years had been one of lost opportunities for the democracies to stand firm in defence of right and afterwards to show generosity as a result of strength. The day would come when a firm stand would have to be made.
After a short speech from Mr. Boothby, who supported Mr. Chamberlain, Mr. Lloyd George rose and began with a warm tribute to Mr. Eden, directed straight at Mr. Eden across the House. It was very difficult for a Minister to resign, but if he did so there were certainly good reasons. In this case the Prime Minister would now have observed from reactions abroad that Mr. Eden╒s resignation was regarded as dictated by principle and not by disagreement on detail.
HEATED EXCHANGES
Mr. Lloyd George began to reconstruct in living phrases the events of last week-end, starting with the Italian telegram. The Prime Minister must have noticed the dates, he said. Mr. Chamberlain saw at once that Mr. Lloyd George was going to observe that, although the telegram was received on Sunday, it was not communicated to him till Monday. He jumped up therefore to say that ╥unofficially╙ Count Grandi had given him the news on Sunday and that the Cabinet was told.
Great excitement was caused by this statement, and there was a tremendous roar when it was seen that Mr. Eden had risen in his place. Mr. Eden, speaking with a sense of strain, declared that he had not received at the time of his resignation any official intimation whatever from the Italian Government. He did not know whether any news had been sent to the Foreign Office, but if it had ╥it would have made no difference to my decision.╙
The House was almost feverish now and Mr. Lloyd George was stimulated to a tremendous attack on Mr. Chamberlain. ╥I have been a member of various Governments for seventeen years,╙ said Mr. Lloyd George, ╥but I never heard of such conduct. If I had treated a colleague in such a way ╤ (Derisive laughter from Government supporters) ╤ I should have been ashamed and so would any Prime Minister.
The point of the attack was that a document bearing on the decision of a Minister whether to resign or not was withheld from that Minister. This Mr. Chamberlain hotly denied. He was booed and cheered when he rose to defend himself. ╥I do not see that I have done anything disgraceful,╙ said Mr. Chamberlain, who explained in detail the course of events Mr. Eden, he said, had stated that news of the acceptance by Italy of the British formula would not affect his decision. The news arrived on Sunday morning at the Italian Embassy. ╥On Sunday morning,╙ said Mr. Chamberlain, ╥I received from a friend who knew Count Grandi the information that Count Grandi had received a favourable reply. I told the Cabinet so. It did not make any difference to Mr. Eden. I did not expect it to.╙
This account was grateful to Government supporters, who shouted ╥Withdraw╙ to Mr. Lloyd George. He refused, and after more hot exchanges persisted in the view that Mr. Chamberlain, knowing that a favourable reply had been received, should have taken the trouble to secure the document. Count Grandi had deliberately withheld it. ╥There is no doubt at all that the dictators were determined to drive Mr. Eden out because he is the only man in this Government who can stand up to them,╙ added Mr. Lloyd George.
Mr. Herbert Morrison, who wound up for Labour, referred to the ╥friend of Count Grandi╙ who had told Mr. Chamberlain the news of Italy╒s acceptance and asked whether there was a third party who acted between the official representatives of this Government and Italy. If so, it was an undesirable thing. He asked further whether this third party were a woman or a man.
