Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 159, July 14th, 1920Various
General
Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 159, July 14th, 1920
Various
English wit and humor -- Periodicals
A certain General GOLOVIN having published statements reflecting on Mr.
CHURCHILL'S conduct of the campaign in North Russia last year, that section
of the House which is always ready to take the word of any foreigner as
against that of any Englishman, particularly of any English Minister, at
once assumed that the charges were correct. The SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR
was in his place, with the light of battle in his eye, ready to meet his
enemies in the gate. But by the time Mr. BONAR LAW had done with them there
was not much left of the charges. So far as the statements were true, he
said, they merely repeated what was already familiar to the House.
Everybody knew that the Government was helping the anti-Bolshevik forces
last year. But the story that Mr. CHURCHILL had taken his orders from
Admiral KOLTCHAK was both untrue and absurd. He had simply carried out the
policy of the Government, a policy which, though some hon. Members did not
seem to appreciate it, had now been altered.
Committee on the Finance Bill saw the annual assault on the tea duty. "We
are going to drop this duty directly we are in a position to do so," said
Commander KENWORTHY, with his eye on the Treasury Bench. "Who are we?"
shouted the Coalitionists; and it presently appeared that "we" did not
include Sir DONALD MACLEAN, but did include Colonel WEDGWOOD, who, as
becomes one of his name, was all for a generous tea-pot.
[Illustration: LIEUT.-COMMANDER KENWORTHY GIVES AN INFERIOR IMITATION OF
MR. CHARLES CHAPLIN.]
Undeterred by his failure over tea, Commander KENWORTHY next attacked the
duty on films, complaining _inter alia_, "Mr. CHAPLIN is taxed twenty
pounds for every thousand feet." Mr. CHAMBERLAIN defended the tax on
general grounds, but wisely avoided Mr. CHAPLIN'S feet, over which it is
notoriously easy to trip.
The debate on the beer duty shattered one more illusion. It is an article
of faith with the "Wee Frees" that Sir GEORGE YOUNGER is the power behind
the scenes, and that Mr. LLOYD GEORGE is a mere marionette, who only exists
to do his bidding. Yet here was the autocrat confessing, _qua_ brewer, that
the latest addition to the beer duty was the biggest surprise of his life.
_Tuesday, July 6th._--The LORD CHANCELLOR'S request for leave of absence in
order that he might attend the Spa Conference was granted. Lord CREWE'S
remark, that it was "a matter of regret that the Government had to depend
upon the noble and learned lord for legal assistance," might perhaps have
been less ambiguously worded. At any rate Lord BIRKENHEAD thought it
necessary to allay any possible apprehensions by adding that he would be
accompanied by the ATTORNEY-GENERAL.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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