§ 30 Colonel APPLINasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade. Department whether the lion of Judah was adopted as the emblem of the British Empire Exhibition in place of the British lion with the approval of his Department; and if he can inform the House why this change in the traditional form of the British lion was made?
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the traditional lion on the arms of England is the lion of Judah, and that the kings of Scotland always claim descent from the kings of Judah?
Mr. SAMUELThat is not the question put to me. The lion of Wembley is not, in my own private opinion, like the conventional lion of Judah. The lion of Judah was a Palestinian, Asiatic lion and that lion was rounder and shorter in the body, and had a shorter and curlier mane than the Wembley lion. That is 1433 how I make the comparison from Aristotle's and Pliny's description of a Palestinian lion. A typical example of the lion of Judah was discovered, many years ago, among the sculptured remains of the rains of Arban. It confirms the description given by Aristotle and Pliny and it does not resemble the lion of Wembley
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYam sorry to press the hon. Gentleman, but this is a very important matter. Is he aware that all Scottish students of Heraldry are agreed that the Scottish lion is the lion of Judah?
§ Mr. HARDIESince such a discussion has arisen, would it lie possible to get a Scottish lion at Wembley, to show what a tender thing a lion is?