Parliament's Week

The Lords and Commons:

P: Sat down for the "short session" prior to Nov. 20 at which time George V will open Parliament's new year with his Speech from the Throne. P: Were jolted by nation-wide municipal election returns ominous for the National Government (see col. 3).

The Commons:

P: Passed on third (final) reading the Incitement to Disaffection Bill ("Sedition Bill"), notorious as the most reactionary measure yet jammed through by the National Government.

In effect this act gives High Court justices discretion to violate almost at will nearly everything implied in the cherished dictum "an Englishman's house is his castle."

If the justices are "satisfied" that anyone "has in his possession or under his control" papers which might "seduce any member of His Majesty's forces from his duty or allegiance to His Majesty," then a warrant may be issued authorizing police ("if necessary, by force") to "search the premises or place and every person found therein, and to seize anything found on the premises or place or on any person." Seduction or mere "endeavour to seduce" His Majesty's forces from duty or allegiance to His Majesty by any means whatsoever is also made a crime.

Such an act is clearly Fascist. Its loudest champions have been Britain's No. 1 Blackshirt Sir Oswald Ernald Mosley, Tory Die-Hard Winston Churchill and the Commissioner of London's Metropolitan Police, leather-lunged Lord "Boom" Trenchard. Against the Act gentle Quakers have industriously murmured. Socialist penfolk like H. G. Wells accuse His Majesty's Government of either having the jitters or consciously preparing for war.

In the House of Commons last week Labor Party Leader George Lansbury stormed for 40 minutes against "this greatest menace to individual liberty! It would incriminate the Bishop of Birmingham for his sermons against British bombing of helpless tribesmen in Afghanistan. Indeed, what possessor of a copy of Our Savior's blessed Sermon on the Mount would be safe? He might use it to seduce a simple sailor!"

Heckling the Prime Minister, Laborites read excerpts from an old letter in which Scot MacDonald, an industrious pacifist during the War, certainly appeared to encourage sedition. "That is a private letter!" snapped the Prime Minister, cold with fury.

"I want to say I stand by this bill with full recollection of what happened in Wartime."

"The bill brands His Majesty's forces as lunatics, if they remain loyal, knowing they are barred from hearing the Opposition!" scoffed gaunt, stringy-haired James Maxton, the Labor Party's No. 1 near-Communist.

"It is designed to crush the insignificant Communist," observed Laborite Dave Kirkwood judicially, "but in the hands of incompetent, dishonest police it could be applied to great innocent masses." Shrilled Laborite Aneurin Bevan, "With this bill the Attorney General admits that it is to be illegal for a British soldier to be a Christian!"

A stiff-necked high churchman is Attorney General Sir Thomas Inskip. As a great concession he had slightly modified the Bill which at first would have given to petty justices of the peace the drastic powers now conferred only on High Court justices. Knowing he had the National Government steam roller behind him, Sir Thomas frigidly declared that to enable the Crown to fight "growing organized Communist incitement" the Act is indispensable. It promptly passed the Commons 241-10-68, seemed sure to pass the Lords this week and should become law Nov. 14.

P: Cheered President of the Board of Trade Walter Runciman as he announced that the German Government has granted preferential treatment to British exporters who may now get paid for the greater part of their shipments to Germany (TIME, Aug. 20). Significantly President Runciman added: "I suggest to our exporters that they continue to proceed with caution."

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