Into History

Britain's fourth longest Parliament,* and one of her most momentous, passed into history last week. It had sat for nearly ten years (Nov. 14, 1935, to June 15, 1945). It had passed 556 bills and 11,902 statutory rules and orders. It had been led by three Conservative Prime Ministers--Stanley Baldwin, Neville Chamberlain, Winston Churchill. It had seen the death of a King (George V), the abdication of another (Edward VIII), and the coronation of a third (George VI). It had seen Britain at its moral ebb (Munich and the days of appeasement), at the brink of disaster (Dunkirk and the blitz) and at the peak of its moral resurgence (when for more than a year Britain stood single-handed against the might of German-dominated Europe). In the end it had celebrated a tremendous military victory. It had endured bombardment (twelve hits on the Parliament buildings) and mourned the loss of 18 members killed in armed service.

Now, save for some 20 septuagenarians and conservative Lady Astor, retiring from public life, most of its members were once more headed for the hustings. The retirement of U.S.-born Lady Astor was itself a historic occasion. For 25 years her whiplash tongue had flicked unsparingly at political opponents and political dullards. But most members were sorry to see her go. Cried Will Thorne, 87, another retiring M.P., as she filed out: "Goodbye, Lady Astor." She turned, blew him a kiss and waved her hand.

* The three longest: the 18-year Cavalier Parliament (1661-1679), the 13-year Long Parliament (1640-1653), the eleven-year Elizabethan Parliament (1572-1583).

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