Parliament's Week

The Commons--

P: Were thunderstruck by Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Snowden (see above).

P: Noted a declaration by the Prime Minister last week slightly softening the Pass-field declaration (TIME, Nov. 3), which had hardened the lot of Jews in Palestine.

P: Were intrigued by a question which Socialist Oliver Baldwin, smart son of muddling Conservative Leader Stanley Baldwin, suddenly popped:

"Will His Majesty's Government ascertain from the British Ambassador in Washington if any British subjects were included among persons who have died from starvation recently in the United States?"

Replying, "Uncle Arthur" Henderson, Foreign Secretary, said that he had heard of no such deaths, opined that British consuls would have reported them, refused to query the Embassy.

P: Added wishes to the hope of Laborite Lieut. Commander J. M. Kenworthy who, speaking only for himself, declared that with a little encouragement the U. S. would grant Great Britain a debt moratorium. "The conference to consider it," said he plausibly, "should be called by the United

States, but that country apparently is afraid to make the move, so England should take the initiative. . . . All America--all of Eastern America and the American bankers--is in favor of a policy of moratorium, but the Middle West has not come over.

Lady Astor: [Commander Kenworthy] is right about the American Middle West. ... I will use such influence as I have. . . .

P: Hotly debated a bill introduced by the Scottish temperance M. P., Edwin Scrynigeour, to prohibit commercial liquor sales in Britain and provide that liquor sold for medicinal use must be labeled "Poison."

Cried shocked Conservative Lieut.-Colonel Sir William Wayland, as he moved rejection of the bill: "Just fancy a bottle of rare old crusted port labeled 'poison!' "

Lady Astor: The liquor interests spend $4,000,000 a year on advertising--more than four times what is spent advertising milk!

Sir William: But milk is a beastly drink!

Mr. Scrymgeour: Evidence given before the present Royal Licensing Commission showed that in four London brewing companies there were among the shareholders forty-six peers, twenty peeresses, 161 lords and ladies and honorables, forty-seven baronets, 106 knights and seventeen mem bers of Parliament.

Lady Astor: You might as well call it the beerage as the peerage.

The Speaker (interjecting severely): I would remind the noble lady that it is a rule of this House not to say anything dis respectful of the Other Place (the House of Lords).

Scot Scrymgeour's bill was thrown out 137 to 18.

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