ASTONISHING SCENE

Evening Post, Issue 149, 20 December 1935, Page 8

ASTONISHING SCENE

OPINION SWINGS BACK

COMMENT ON SITUATION

(Received December 20, ~2.30 p.m.) LONDON, December 19.

The "Sun-Herald" correspondent says that, the spectacle of Sir Samuel Hoare having been thrust from one of his Majesty's highest offices by the overwhelming opinion of the public and his colleagues and suddenly swinging this opinion back in his favour was one of the most astonishing happenings Parliament has witnessed. No pronouncement, in the, House of Commons ever terminated in a more remarkable ovation which was a worthy tribute to a statesmanlike and dignified statement. A few of the extremer Tories, are still disinclined to absolve Sir Samuel* Hoare, but the overwhelming majority of Government members felt that Sir Samuel Hoare had proved his action was right in fact, though not in method. It is even asserted in the Lobbies that Sir ' Samuel Hoare will surely return to the Front. Bench within six months when a big reconstruction occurs.

Nearly all lobby discussion turned on Sir Samuel Hoare and Mr. Baldwin's magnificent personal tribute and his admission almost in Sir Samuel Hoare's words that the situation menaced European peace.

Other Government speakers, using similar phrases, built up a case which made their erstwhile opponents feel a certain guiltiness in having forced Sir Samuel Hoare from office.

There is much comment on Mr. Baldwin's generous gesture in allowing Sir Samuel Hoare from a back bench to deliver the speech he intended until last night to make as Foreign Secretary. In other words in allowing Sir Samuel so to unseal his lips Mr. Baldwin robbed himself of his own most powerful ammunition.. The move had advantages because the lobbies considered afterwards that if such words as Sir Samuel Hoare's regarding "Britain's preparedness in the Mediterranean and readiness to retaliate if Italy attacked Britain" had been uttered from the dispatch box, they would almost have amounted to a declaration of war. Actually members were surprised when they realised the gravity of the situation. Members only fully appreciated the stark facts of the situation in the Mediterranean when Sir Samuel Hoare, with quiet deliberation and great sincerity, revealed that nobody excepting Britain had moved'a ship, man, or machine to the Mediterranean.