In Parliament

The House of Commons went into committee on the budget estimates and the Rt. Hon. James F. Hope, Chairman of the Committee, took his seat on the Speaker's Chair.

H. A. L. Fisher, Liberal, former Minister of Education, opened debate on the Government's foreign policy by warning the House against an alliance with France and Belgium which, he said, was sure to divide Europe into two armed camps.

Foreign Secretary Austen Chamberlain began to outline his policy and stated that it was desirable, in order to prevent Europe from splitting into two armed camps, that Germany should become a party to the proposed treaty of security (see INTERNATIONAL). But when he referred to a secret document that he had received from Germany, the irrepressible Clydesider, "Dave" Kirkwood,* shouted: "Wot abaht the Red letter?"--a reference to the Zinoviev letter which aided the Conservatives in the last election (TIME, Dec. 1).

Chairman Hope called for order, but "Dave" declined to be orderly and continued to argue, whereupon the chairman "named" him, the initial formality of taking a vote of suspension. As the chairman had no authority to take the vote, Mr. Speaker Whitley was sent for. After a short pause, the Speaker entered the debating chamber and took his seat. Mr. Chamberlain formally moved that Mr. Kirkwood be suspended. Ex-Premier Ramsay MacDonald asked to be allowed to make an explanation, but the Speaker replied that, in accordance with the rules of the House, he must abide by the Chairman's version of what had happened. He then put the motion to a vote without debate and Kirkwood's suspension for the present session was carried 245 to 119 votes.

By way of protest, Mr. MacDonald led the whole Labor Party out of the House, each member bowing elaborately as he passed the Speaker's Chair. The silence in which these proceedings were carried out was only once broken and that was when Jack Jones, Laborite, challenged the House by shouting: "Come outside and we'll settle it!" It was the first time that any party had walked out of the House since Bonar Law led the Conservatives out in 1914 over the Irish Home Rule Bill.

Mr. Chamberlain continued his speech, the main points of which were :

1) That the Government would not ratify the League Protocol.

2) That the Government would promote disarmament at the earliest opportunity in a feasible way.

3) That he would exchange views with Premier Herriot at Paris looking toward a defensive treaty between Britain, France, Belgium and Germany.

* David Kirkwood, Labor member for Dumbarton, is what the English call a "character"--which means that he is not amenable to discipline or respectful of convention. A typical Scot, he is certainly one of the most outstanding men of the Parliamentary Labor Party and, in spite of his rough humor and coarse tactics, is well liked by the Liberals and most of the Conservatives.

Mr. Kirkwood is not a Communist, as is generally thought. His Socialism is certainly more radical than that of the moderate Laborites like ex-Premier MacDonald and his followers; but, in his constant attacks upon the existent order of things, what he has at heart is raising the Scotch poor from the unenviable state in which they live. His whole mind is dominated by this one thought, and when he finds hundreds of millions of pounds being spent by Parliament for the Nation's upkeep, he thinks of these people and his tempestuous tongue is wagged faster than his superheated brain can think.

At heart, he is a good fellow and, when he puts himself in the wrong, he is never slow in making amends, provided he believes himself to be wrong. Thus, in his attack on the Prince of Wales' visit to Africa and South America (TIME, Feb. 23), he was accused of attacking the Prince. This he subsequently denied, paid ample tribute to the Royal Family, openly declared that there was nothing repubican in his thoughts, but he held to his right of criticizing the royal activities.

During the War, like his present leader, Ramsay MacDonald, Mr. Kirkwood did his best to ruin Britain's cause by advocating a "down tools" policy among munition workers. For a time he undoubtedly was a Communist, but, strange though it may seem, his patriotism saved him. He bears this out with a quotation from Burns, whom he quotes often and with great facility:

To all the world I give my hand, My heart I give my native land.