Parliament's Week

The Lords

P: Vastly titillated themselves by going through a pompous rigmarole the result of which was to open the windows of their House for the first time in eight years.

Attracted by news of this novelty which spread like wildfire through smart Mayfair, an unusually large number of their Lordships strolled in, several wearing bright-colored Ascot waistcoats.

The Commons

P: Were aghast when, for the first time in living memory, an M. P. entered their House wearing a straw hat. Promptly the innovator, Major James Archibald St. George Fitzwarenne Despencer-Robertson, M. P. (Conservative), was suspected of conspiring to help the Princess Royal win her -L-25 "boater bet" from her brother the Prince of Wales.*

P: Passed (186 to 168) the Government's bill to impose a tax of 5% on Sunday cinema shows and devote the money thus received to subsidizing British cinemakers.

P: Received from Secretary of State for India Sir Samuel Hoare's intimations: 1) that the stringent Indian Civil Disobedience Ordinances which were due to expire July 3 will be extended indefinitely; 2) that Indians, whether they like it or not, will receive a Federal Constitution and a set of state constitutions all enacted "as a single bill" by the London Parliament. Ignoring St. Gandhi and the entire Indian Nationalist movement, Sir Samuel thus served notice that steamroller tactics will be used in "granting India a greater measure of freedom."

* According to Court rumor, Princess Alary recently argued that, despite Edward of Wales' failure to revive the fashion for straw "boaters" by wearing them in South America, he could still bring the boater back by wearing it persistently in England. This His Royal Highness is now doing (TIME, July 4), but is understood to have bet Her Royal Highness that the style cannot be revived, even by himself. As is usual when bets are made in the Royal Family, the -L-25 is to go to charity. Settlement is supposed to be made at the close of this year's London "Season," ending traditionally with the Royal Garden Party.

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