To Arms

Strangest vocal accompaniment heard on historic occasions is the throaty "Hear! Hear!" of the House of Commons. Sometimes it is a weird rumble sounding like so many "woof-woofs" uttered by congratulatory bears. Sometimes it ebbs and swells with a rising inflection, as though incompetent mechanics were tinkering with a siren. Incomprehensible to visitors, in the bad acoustics of the hall, punctuated with opposition cries of "Rubbish!" "No!" "Order!" "Resign!" it rumbles periodically over all debates.

But last week, when the House of Commons heard Prime Minister Chamberlain give a momentous speech advocating reversal of a 300-year British policy, the House was subdued. Great Britain was introducing peacetime conscription for the first time since Charles II drafted men for his civil and foreign troubles.* The Prime Minister declared that nothing would so impress on other countries Great Britain's resistance to aggression as "its acceptance of the principle of compulsory military service." A very weak "Hear, Hear!" came from Government supporters. Front-bench Laborites, lolling back with their feet on the desk when the speech began, made half-hearted interruptions, but voiced only perfunctory resentment even when it ended.

No sweeping militarization of British domestic life was involved in the Government's proposal. It called up 200,000 young men between 20 and 21 (other classes may be called later) for six months of Draining with the regular Army, after which they may join the Territorial Militia for three-and-a-half years, or serve in a special reserve of the regular forces. It will provide by year's end for an Army of some 353,000. Six months' training seemed brief compared with the German three years, French two. No longer than a month ago Mr. Chamberlain had declared against compulsory military service. He gave three reasons for "changing his mind."

> Modern wars come suddenly. A large body of trained soldiers is needed at once.

> Great Britain has contracted new liabilities in Europe (Polish, Greek, Rumanian pledges), the sincerity of which is questioned despite British rearmament, so long as Great Britain rejects the principle of compulsory military services, commonplace on the Continent. Taunts that "England would fight to the last Frenchman" have hampered British diplomacy.

> Wealth has already been largely conscripted (cries of "Don't talk such rubbish!" "Order!" "What order is there in such a silly preposterous statement?" "Hear! Hear!") but new steps will be taken to limit profits of armament firms and to make certain that individuals will not get rich "out of conditions which war creates."

When Prime Minister Chamberlain sat down, customary verbal pillow fights were started by Opposition members. Labor complained about the Prime Minister's broken pledge against conscription. Independent Labor called for a general election. Labor's motion of no confidence was lost, 143-to-380.

Too mild to increase Britain's military might sensationally, too strong to be interpreted only as a gesture on the eve of Hitler's Reichstag speech, conscription was primarily important in signalizing another break in Britain's traditions, another change in the status of British labor, another change in the status of British arms. For 70 years British practice has been to maintain a complementary unit in England for every Army unit required overseas. In theory each regiment has a battalion at home and one abroad, the home battalion training men to replace soldiers whose active service has expired. In comparison with this smooth machine, involving a minimum number of men in training on the British Isles, last week's proposal was revolutionary.

Not even the peace-loving Socialists raised any great fuss. And from France, a onetime Premier, Socialist Leon Blum, even spoke sharply against Labor's opposition to such mild conscription. Said he of British Labor's distaste for conscription: "I am myself staggered and I think that French opinion generally is staggered."

*During the World War, Great Britain relied on voluntary enlistments until May 1916. In 1914, 1,186,000 volunteered in 1915, 1,280,000 In the first four months of 1916, 401,000 enlisted. In charge of the draft in Lloyd George's Government was an inconspicuous half-brother of famed Sir Austen Chamberlain, 47-year-old Neville Chamberlain.

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