13 JULY 1918, Page 3

We do not ourselves believe that Mr. Leverton Harris had

any evil intention whatever in asking for special facilities for the firm in which he was a large shareholder. He had already proved his good faith by great personal sacrifices and by voluntarily bearing a heavy burden of public service. That his action was liable to be misunderstood, and was therefore one of those indiscretions which do injury to public life, we have previously admitted. But what are we to say of the action of the Government in the matter ? Their shufflings and evasions have been like those of a very bad type of Old Bailey witness under cross-examination.