Mr. J. H. Thomas (Lab) said that} the Opposition were suspicious that Great Britain had been committed in advance. They joined issue with] the Government on the ground of the serious blow struck. at the prestige of the League.
He declared that if the League] failed, the workers would forge another instrument to take its place c]—an instrument that would bring] about international peace, He added that Sir Austen Cham-lain had had one chance and had it. The House of Commons then tried to give him another but he had missed it. They refused to give him a third chance.
Stanley Baldwin, the Pre-replying, said that a new commission would confront the new! situation, free of all engagements of kind to consider the future coriposition of the Council and Ger many had been invited to take a seat on equal terms equal rights of speech and of voting on he commission.
Mr. Baldwin expressed the confidence of the Cabinet in Sir Austen Chamberlain, who had come through difficult and' trying times,—having done his best in the circumstances.
In a few months he would bring to fruition the efforts in which he had been so long engaged (Loud Ministorial cheers).
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.