But the rare unanimity of persons and parties was striking. All praised with one voice the viceroy’s weasel speech of 7 August – Tories, Labour, Liberals and Independents. Vernon Bartlett spoke approvingly, while Eleanor Rathbone

Eleanor Florence Rathbone, critic of appeasement and Independent MP, 1929–46.

expressed her pleasure with her voice and gestures.

A curious incident happened at the meeting of the Labour Executive Committee on 13 August. The meeting was drawing to a close when it dawned on the members of the committee that the question of India would be discussed in parliament the following day. Who should speak? They deliberated for a while, then decided that the first to speak after Amery should be… Lord Winterton (who, as luck would have it, now sits on the opposition front bench next to Shinwell and Wedgwood). Who else? Who else from Labour? Lees-Smith

Hastings Bertrand Lees-Smith, chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party, 1940–41.

(the chairman) indecisively surveyed those present. They kept silent until someone suggested: ‘Let Ammon

Charles Ammon, Labour MP, 1922–31 and 1935–44.

say a few words.’

Ammon is a third-rate backbencher, a kind of Mädchen für alles.

The decision was made: Ammon would speak.

Pethick-Lawrence then piped up: ‘But we need to know what Ammon is planning to say!… What if he decides to support Nehru?’

Jawaharlal Nehru, Indian nationalist leader and statesman.

‘Oh no, he won’t do that,’ came the universal response.

Ammon quite justified the Executive Committee’s trust: he did say ‘a few words’, and foul ones at that.

What a characteristic scene!