GLADSTONE—­[No, please not.  ED.]

  EVOE.

* * * * *

    “BRIGHTON.—­The ——.  One minute sea, West Pier, Lawns.  Gas fires in
    beds.”—­Advt. in Daily Paper.

Thanks, but we prefer a hot-water bottle.

* * * * *

[Illustration:  MORAL SUASION.

THE RABBIT.  “MY OFFENSIVE EQUIPMENT BEING PRACTICALLY NIL, IT REMAINS FOR
ME TO FASCINATE HIM WITH THE POWER OF MY EYE.”]

* * * * *

ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.

[Illustration:  THE INCOHERENTS.

The reply of the Soviet Government to the Spa Conference was described by Mr. LLOYD GEORGE as “incoherent; the sort of document that might be drawn up by a committee composed of Colonel WEDGWOOD, Commander KENWORTHY, Lord ROBERT CECIL, Mr. BOTTOMLEY and Mr. THOMAS.”  It is understood that these hon.  Members intend to hold an indignation meeting to discuss means—­if any—­of refuting this charge.]

Monday, July 19th.—­Opinions may differ as to the wisdom of the Peers in reopening the DYER case, but the large audience which assembled in the galleries, where Peeresses and Indians vied with one another in the gorgeousness of their attire, testified to the public interest in the debate.  At first the speakers made no attempt to “hot up” their cold porridge.  In presenting General DYER’S case Lord FINLAY was strong without rage.  In rebutting it the UNDER-SECRETARY FOR INDIA proved himself a grave and reverend SINHA, without a trace of the provocativeness displayed by his Chief in the Commons.  Not until the LORD CHANCELLOR intervened did the temperature begin to rise.  His description of the incident in the Jullianwallah Bagh was only a little less lurid than that of Mr. MONTAGU.  The Peers would, I think, have liked a little more explanation of how an officer who admittedly exhibited, both before and after this painful affair, “discretion, sobriety and resolution,” should be regarded as having on this one day committed “a tragic error of judgment upon the most conspicuous stage,” and may have wondered whether, if the stage had been less conspicuous, the critics would have been more lenient.

[Illustration:  AN ARABIAN KNIGHT AT HOME.  LORD WINTERTON.]

For as long as I can remember the French have been partant pour la Syrie.  Now they have got there, with a mandate from the Supreme Council, and have come into collision with the Arabs.  As we are the friends of both parties the situation is a little awkward.  Mr. ORMSBY-GORE hoped we were not going to fight our Arab allies, and was supported by Lord WINTERTON, who saw service with them during the War.  A diplomatic speech by Mr. BONAR LAW, who pointed out that the French were in Syria on just the same conditions as we were in Mesopotamia, helped to keep the debate within safe limits.