Renovated Bottle

"Your former place of sitting," wrote King George to the members of Britain's House of Commons one day last week, "has now been rebuilt ... It is my pleasure that you do occupy the new chamber . . ." Next day, forbidden by ancient tradition to enter the premises in his royal capacity, the King slipped into Britain's new House of Commons for a quick look on his own.*

Red Lines In the Carpet. What he saw differed little in appearance from the House chamber that was reduced to rubble by Hitler's bombers in 1941. The new chamber, designed by Architect Sir Giles Gilbert Scott and built at a cost of -L-1,750,000, still had banks of elaborately carved, green-cushioned wooden benches ranged on either side, as before, in front of ornate oak-paneled walls. Two red lines, woven into the green carpet and thoughtfully placed just over two sword lengths apart so that overenthusiastic partisans could not prick each other, once again marked the limits beyond which members of opposing parties were not allowed to step in the heat of debate.

In 1943 Winston Churchill had won his argument for keeping the old chamber's rectangular shape against those who favored a semicircular pattern. "The party system," said Churchill, "is much favored by an oblong form of chamber. It is easy for an individual to move through those insensible gradations from left to right, but the act of crossing the floor [to change parties] is one which requires serious consideration. I am well-informed on this matter for I have accomplished that difficult process not only once but twice."

New features include fluorescent lighting, a network of amplifiers and an air-conditioning system (supervised by an engineer in the basement who can watch proceedings in the chamber through a 65-ft. periscope). There is more room in the galleries for journalists and other "strangers" (i.e., visitors) than before, but the new chamber, like the old, still provides only 437 seats for its 625 elected members.

Faces to the Wall. Last week's opening ceremonies were conducted amid the high good spirits of a family christening. After solemn prayers, during which strangers (allowed to participate for the first time) and members alike knelt on the benches with faces turned toward the wall, a motion was put by Prime Minister Attlee to thank the King for the new House. Seconded by Churchill, it passed unanimously.

"I think," said Prime Minister Attlee as he surveyed the new home of the Parliament whose deliberations have contained the changes of centuries of history, "the British have the distinction above all other nations of being able to put new wine into old bottles without bursting them."

* The last British king to invade the House of Commons officially was Charles I who, with an armed escort, stormed up to the House on a chill afternoon in January 1642 in search of his rebellious Ministers Pym, Holles, Heselrige, Strode and Hampden. He entered alone to ask for the culprits. Speaker William Lenthall told him coldly: "May it please Your Majesty, I have neither eyes to see nor tongue to speak in this place but as the House is pleased to direct me whose servant I am." "I see my birds are flown," answered Charles, turning back to stride through doors held ominously open during his visit.

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