11 OCTOBER 1924, Page 1

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

THE Government have courted rather than passively accepted their fate. Evidently they would rather appeal to the country on a legal question—or what they pretend is only a legal question—than on their Russidn policy. They have refused inquiry on a matter (the improper mingling' of political considerations with the course of justice) which urgently needs inquiry in the public interest. They ran out to meet their end in spite of certain wise attempts at restraint within the Cabinet. The nation will note that a Government who have always praised pnblicity and condemned secrecy have gone against their . own principles.- The Prime " Minister's failure to be true to himself in the moment of crisis, and his personal anger at a perfectly iust demand, were not a creditable culmination to the work of the first Labour Government. Many who are not members of the Labour Party will feel a keen regret at such a false and dreary conclusion to an inter- esting experiment. As Unionists we hope and believe that the nation will show at the General Election its strong dislike of the practical insincerity.