Some of our warriors are already experiencing the horrors of peace.  Mr. CHURCHILL has promised searching inquiry into the case of the officer who sent a hundred-word telegram—­at Government expense—­about a dog; and Mr. CHAMBERLAIN, on his attention being called to the forty-three motorcars still in use by the War Office, gave an answer which implied an impending slump in joy-rides.

Sir MARTIN CONWAY’S anxiety that an “archaeologically-qualified official” should be entrusted with the duty of protecting the ancient monuments of Mesopotamia was relieved by Mr. FISHER.  Such an official had already been sent out—­not from the War Office, where all the “archaeologically qualified” are presumably too busy—­but from the British Museum.  Part of his work had been kindly done for him by the German scientists, who had collected ninety cases of specimens, now in our hands.  The removal of bricks or other antiquities had long been forbidden—­rather a blow to Dr. ADDISON, who in the present shortage of building material is very envious of the new Bavarian Government with a bricklayer at its head.

Wednesday, April 9th.—­In the Commons Dr. MACNAMARA announced that the Admiralty did not propose to perpetuate the title “Grand Fleet” for the principal squadron of His Majesty’s Navy.  The Grand Fleet is now a part of the history that it did so much to make.

On the Third Reading of the Ministry of Health Bill Mr. J.H.  THOMAS made a rather ungracious allusion to the Local Government Board. De moribundis nil nisi bonum should have been his motto, especially as the old Department has done splendid work (and never better than in recent times under Sir HORACE MONRO) for the health and comfort of His Majesty’s lieges.

If words were as effective as bullets the Bolshevist Government in Russia would have but a brief existence.  The rumour that LENIN had made overtures to the Allies moved Mr. CLEM EDWARDS to a display of virtuous vituperation that Mr. BOTTOMLEY found difficult to equal, though he did his best.  Even Colonel WEDGWOOD, though he evidently thinks we ought to make peace with LENIN, indignantly repudiated the suggestion that he himself is a Bolshevist.  Towards the close of the evening the HOME SECRETARY declared that no proposals from LENIN had reached our delegates in Paris—­a statement which, if made a few hours earlier, would have rendered the debate superfluous.  In his opinion the proposals, whatever they may be, had been “made in Germany” and should be excluded as goods of enemy origin.  His statement that he was deporting Bolshevists every day was satisfactory so far as it went, but left the House wondering how they had been permitted to get here.

Thursday, April 10th.—­The House does not feel quite the same without its BONAR, who has once more flown off to Paris.  Question after Question was “postponed” for his return.  We were informed, however, that the delay in releasing Charles the First from internment was due to the necessity of repairing sundry damages to his fabric, due, I understand, not to Zeppelins or Gothas, but to the corroding tooth of Time.