Parliament's Week

P:With Chancellor Luther and Foreign Minister Stresemann in the Distinguished Visitors' Gallery of the House of Commons, noted Scotch Laborite Arthur Henderson* created a sensation by demanding to be told once and for all whether the dead bodies of German soldiers were ever "boiled down" by their comrades in "corpse factories" during the War, or whether the story (TIME, Nov. 2) was faked British propaganda, as was recently hinted in Manhattan by General Charteris (head of the British Army Intelligence Service during the War).

Amid an awkward pause, Dr. Luther and Herr Stresemann arose and quitted the gallery. A few minutes later Foreign Secretary Sir Austen Chamberlain appeared and smoothed matters over as follows:

"The Chancellor of Germany has authorized me to say on the authority of the German Government that there was never any foundation for the corpse factory story. On behalf of the British Government I accept this denial and trust this false report will not be again revived."

A modicum of cheering ensued.

P:Mr. J. C. C. Davidson, Under Secretary for the Admiralty, announced in the House that 37 antiquated British warships are shortly to be junked for what they will bring. Included in the list are 18 destroyers, 7 submarines, 3 cruisers, 1 "drifter" (fishing boat taken over during the War and employed as naval trawler).

P:Sir Samuel J. G. Hoare, Secretary of State for Air, told the House that 9 squadrons of airplanes (averaging 12 planes each) are now maintained permanently with the fleet, 27 1/2 squadrons are in readi- ness in England, and 18 1/2 squadrons are stationed in the colonies and elsewhere.

P:A Labor resolution censuring the Government for its part in the recent jailing of 12 noted Communists (TIME, Dec. 7) was voted down by the House 351 to 122. During the debate former Labor Premier Macdonald cried: "These 12 men were put in prison after a trial conducted like a general election . . . after a most improper whoop." The Home Secretary, Sir William Joynson-Hicks, noted die-hard Conservative, replied to Mr. Macdonald's attack less pugnaciously than is his wont. He remarked: "My attention haying been called to these Communists, their activities were merely referred to the Attorney General." Attorney General Douglas Hogg then rose and "accepted full responsibility" for the prosecution.

P:Late in the week, at 4:30 a. m. Mr. Neil McLean, Clydeside Laborite fire-eater, attempted to delay debate in the Commons by in- terjecting a motion calling for a secret session of the House--the first since the War period. Adroit, the Tories refused to heckle over the point, passed the motion in a flash, effectively cut Mr. McLean off from the public audience which he delights to entertain.

*Onetime day laborer, total abstainer, Home Secretary in the Maddonald cabinet.