We can assure Sir Edward Carson that he is entirely
mistaken. We venture to say that if he would attend any of the meetings at which the " squaring " is alleged to take place--we have not the slightest doubt that he would be welcomed at such gatherings both by Ministers and by editors—he would at once-realize the truth of our observations. It has long been a practice to give specially important news to the Press for its private information, though such news cannot for reasons of public policy be published. The inter- views with Cabinet Ministers which have become a feature of the war are only an expansion of this principle. At these gatherings heckling en the part of the journalists—heckling which is sometimes of a somewhat severe character—is in order. In addition to the information. elicited in cross-examination, the representatives of the Press have an opportunity to state hometruths at their pleasure. To represent this process as" squaring "will be regarded as ludicrous by any one who has been present at the meetings. They are in no sense sensational, but are not, we think, unuseful.
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