HIS FACE SLAPPED

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 80, 5 April 1938, Page 11

HIS FACE SLAPPED

CONSERVATIVE M.P.

TURMOIL IN COMMONS

PROVOCATIVE REMARK

(United Press Association—By Electrlo Telegraph—Copyright.)

(Received April 5, 11.20/ a.m.)

LONDON, April 4. The House of Commons was thrown into turmoil at question time today when Lieut.-Commander R. T. Bower (Conservative), a British naval officer and a former boxing champion, had his face slapped by Mr. E. Shinwell (Labour), following a, retort by Lieut.-Commander Bower to a question on foreign affairs.

The Speaker had to' intervene to prevent Mr. Shinwell asking a supplementary question. ( >

Mr. Shinwell's persistence caused Government supporters to protest.

Lieut.-Commander Bower's remark, "Go back to Poland," was addressed to Mr. Shinwell, and resulted in Mr. Shinwell crossing the Chamber and giving Lieut.-Commander Bower, who is one of the biggest men in the House, a resounding slap in the face.

Mr. Shinwell returned to his seat and said: "I wa* born in England., I am a British subject. The honourable gentleman had no right to make suoh a reference. My method was the only protection open to me." ' The Speaker said he would ignore the incident if each apologised. , :

Mr. Shinwell, attributing his action

to heat of temper, apologised to the House and left the Chamber, whereupon Lieut.-Commander Bower admitted the provocativeness of his remark and said he would have apologised if Mr. Shinwell had remained in the House. The incident then closed.