IN THE FEAR OF WAR

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 39, 9 November 1938, Page 12

IN THE FEAR OF WAR

House Of Commons During Czech Crisis CONTRAST WITH 1914 The unparalleled scenes in the House of Commons at the end of Mr. Chamberlain's speech indicating his intention of visiting Herr Hitler will* live in memory’s eye as the most remarkable that one Parliamentary journalist has ever seen at Westminster, says the Parliamentary writer of the "Manchester Guardian.” The Commons standing on the benches and waving orderpapers for Philip Snowden s Emergency Budget and his closing lines from Swinburne's great rhapsody on England’s faith in her stars—that, the most memorable scene in the House of Commons for years, was nothing to this. The Tories were up and wildly cheering, not once but a number of times. Some Liberals joined them and one or two Labour men. The rest of the Opposition remained seated and constrained. Possibly they did not want to rush in and identify themselves prematurely with a four-Power move that might have darker objectives than a settlement of the Sudeten problem. . , But their undemonstrativeness only heightened that of everybody, else, for Hie clapping and the cheering were carried up to the roof. The side gallories were packed with cheering Tories. The Diplomatic Gallery was also on its feet applauding—the Diplomalie Gallery, if you please!—and Signor Grand!, with that handsome Italian Renaissance head of his, was admirably leading the clapping. Above them and taking their lead from the diplomatists were the general public, and they clapped with such resolution that the attendants came up in an attempt to stop them. On the other side ot the clock the peers were standing—Lord Baldwin, Lord Halifax, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the rest. But they just stood. They have been trained in a severe school of self-control. Contrasts. But this tumultuous culmination to the speech was not the only unusual thing. This crisis has never for long escaped a touch of unreality. A world war for Hie difference between tlie A.iglo-Freneh plan and the Hitler memorandum lias alwajs carried gleams from the larger lunacy about it, and there was something about Hie atmosphere of Hie House that did not quite match Hie momentous issues of peace or war. Why, it is not easy to say, because everybody was convinced up to Mr. Chamberlains speech that only hours stood between us and war with Germany. When Grey spoke in August, 1914, they had to bring in chairs for surplus members and set them in the wide aisle leading up to Hie table. No chairs were necessary today, Some Labour members found occasion for laughter (Inring Mr. Chamberlain's speech. Nobody wanted to laugh in lul l. The House hung on every word of Grey. I'ltey did not bang on every word of .Mr. Chamberlain. Twice Mr. i'liurchiil conspicuously yawned. It was only the end of Hie speech that brought Hie House bolt npriglil. This difl'erenee in temper between 1914 and new is baffling, is it because the suspense has been almost unendurably prolonged and that even modern war is not more terrible than the everlasting anxiety? Whether this is the true explanation or not, the Romans, knew something of Hie psychology of it. There is their saying: "The fear of war is worse than war.”