29 MARCH 1924, Page 2

The object of the crime, it cannot seriously be doubted,

was to embroil the Free State with this country. It is obviously the work of that party in Ireland which is almost incredibly reckless of human life—and of every- thing else—if it can achieve its object, which is to discredit the forces of law and order, be they British or Irish. It is for this reason that we welcome Mr. MacDonald's reply to President Cosgrave's message deploring the out- rage. The criminals evidently hoped that the British Government would apply force and thus play into their hands.