One of our correspondents tells us that the latest of
all Irish grievances is that the British Government are withholding Con- seriptionin order that they may blacken the Irish military character 1 This is perhaps an ironical invention, though when we are treating of Ireland we can never feel quite sure that any statement is ironical.
For a people vehemently to refuse to sanction any measures for supporting the British Navy and British Army, and yet to assums that the British Navy and British troops must always be at hand to defend Ireland, puts irony entirely out of date. The British people should make up their minds that it is beyond thorn to grasp such subtleties, and that it is better for them not to try. Our particular (British) business at present is to eliminate from the world the horrible German influence, and in carrying out that work we have to remember that Sinn Fein has declared itself in alliance with Germany. Ergo, it is futile to eliminate Germany if we allow the friends of Germany in Ireland to go on doing exactly what they please. This is a matter for President Wilson as well as for ourselves.
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