Parliament Adjourns

Irak Debated. Premier Stanley Baldwin slouched amiably into the House of Commons and asked for the ratification "in principle" of the recent decision of the Council of the League of Nations continuing the British regime in Mosul (TIME, Dec. 28, THE LEAGUE).

At once the Laborites launched an attack upon the Government's policy of protecting British oil interests and native Christians in the Vilayet of Mosul at the expense of the British taxpayer; and for a while the debate was enlivened by Laborite obstructionist tactics. Fiery Scotch Laborite Neil Maclean at one time attempted to "rise to a point of order" without observing the technical formality of putting on his hat and sitting down, which must legally accompany such parliamentary "rising." Having no hat within reach Mr. Maclean was nonplused until a fellow member hastily improvised a paper cockade out of a copy of the Times and clapped it on his head. Thenceforward the "ginger group" of the Labor Party harassed the Government at every turn, until Premier Baldwin at length forced the matter to a vote. Then the Laborites, led by the "fire-eating" J. R. Clynes and J. H. Thomas, their "balance-wheel," in the absence of Ramsay Macdonald,* solemnly marched from the hall in protest.

Premier Baldwin stressed the following points in appealing for a unanimous vote backing up both his Government and the League:

"I am asking only for a vote accepting the League Council's decision in principle. The specific details of the settlement will be negotiated and presented to the House during February. . . . The policy of the present Government with respect to Mosul is merely to carry out the policy of Lord Curzon, who signed the Treaty of Lausanne, upon which the adjudication of the League Council is based; and that of Mr. Ramsay Macdonald, whose Labor Government ratified the Treaty. . . . Since we have accepted a mandate over the Kingdom of Irak [containing Mosul] from the League, we are pledged to carry it out. If we weaken the League by not doing so, we shall regret that weakening when the League is called upon in future to take action--perhaps in some unforeseen crisis which might develop about the Locarno Treaties or some similar agreement. . . . In accepting the decision of the League Council, we are simply continuing our present regime for 25 years or until Irak enters the League, which may well take place before that time. . . . In any case, if Turkey should attempt to seize the Mosul region of Irak, she would have to reckon not alone with England but with the League, whose decision she would thus have flouted. . . . The British taxpayer does not stand upon the brink of an enterprise likely to lead to great expense. . . ."

On the basis of this speech, the M.P.'s who remained in the House voted 239 to 4 to accept the main outlines of the League Council's settlement. Next day Mr. Baldwin exchanged a few courteous generalities with Ferid Bey, Turkish Ambassador at London, and critics opined that the chances for peace in Irak were brighter.

The King's Speech. The reading of the King's Speech from the Throne to the House of Lords preceded the adjournment of Parliament as usual; and the imperial oracles were duly relayed to M.P.'s about to dash for their trains by the Speaker of the House of Commons.

On this occasion His Majesty George V, Imperator et Rex, was pleased to accept the responsibilities of authorship for an address which read in part as follows:

"The grievous loss which I and my family sustained by the death of my beloved mother is first in my thoughts. It has been a solace to me in my grief to have received from all conditions and classes in all parts of my dominions and from all foreign countries touching assurances of their deep sympathy in my sorrow and expressions of their affectionate regard for one who was enthroned in the love of my people.

"I was happy to welcome home my son, the Prince of Wales, on his recent return from his visit to South Africa, West Africa and South America. I have been deeply touched by the account he gave to me of the warm welcome everywhere accorded him, and I am proud to think that his visit served to deepen the affection which has united my people and to strengthen the bonds which link this country with the peoples of South America.

"My relations with the Foreign Powers continue to be friendly. It was a source of great satisfaction to me to welcome in London the distinguished plenipotentiaries of Germany, Belgium, France, Italy, Poland and Czechoslovakia, who on Dec. 1 signed the diplomatic instruments initialed at Locarno Oct. 16. . . .

"I have given assent to a bill for confirmation of the agreement reached between my ministers and the Governments of the Irish Free State and Northern Ireland [the Irish boundary settlement, TIME, Dec. 14, 21]. It is my heartfelt prayer that this measure may advance co-operation and strengthen good will in Ireland."

Referring to the activities of the Royal Coal Commission, now investigating all phases of the truce patched up between miners and operators by the Government's coal subsidy (TIME, Aug. 10), the speech continued:

"I am following the course of the inquiry with anxious interest and I am hopeful that the task of my commissioners will be lightened by ungrudging and single-hearted effort on the part of all concerned to find a solution for the problems of this great and vital industry." In conclusion a host of minor internal affairs were touched upon. These included the Wembley Exposition, the housing situation, the unemployment problem.

*Mr. Macdonald departed the first of the week on a visit to India.