Another good sign of the times, besides the somewhat negative
signals flown by the Trade Union Congress,•is the
comment of the Manchester Guardian, which has long been a stout and thoughtful opponent of compulsion. It now pro- fesses an open mind on the question of compulsion for the war. It would not accept even Lord Kitchener's judgment as authoritative and final. It says that so vital a matter must be settled by public opinion, for which discussion is essential :— " We cannot,, then, take the view that discussion of the question is superfluous. On the contrary, if compulsion becomes a live issue the arguments on both sides must be very thoroughly sifted. We are not of those who reject compulsion in principle. Deeply as we should regret this further step in the militarisation of our country, we should coase to resist it from the moment at which we became convinced that it was essential for success in the war."
That is all that we ask for.
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