Meantime, Parliament keeps on its normal course. It does not seem to have much Government business, but Ministers tell me that there will be plenty later on, which seems to indicate that the election will be put off till after the budget next year. I do not think that, unless we make a concession to beer-drinkers, who are bitterly disappointed at the absence of any. reduction on the duty on beer in the present budget, the Government will care to add to its troubles by facing a disgruntled electorate. This may seem a small issue, but you can take it from me that it is a very important one Perhaps we are all optimistic in spring, but in any case I have not before noticed quite the same measure of cheerfulness we now encounter. The main fact to remember is that the Englishman, provided he can compose all differences in his own country, never loses confidence in his ability to hold his; own commercially or otherwise in the world.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.