Mr. Asquith has modified his attitude towards Anarchists, and now
draws distinctions. He informed the House of Commons on Tuesday that he had been asked to allow the Commonweal Society to hold a meeting in Trafalgar Square, but had found on inquiry that the organ of this Society justifies the wholesale massacre of innocent persons as a legitimate method for the attainment of their end. He had, therefore, refused to permit the meeting, and should have prohibited it, even if it had proposed to assemble in any other place. He would always forbid a meeting for an unlawful purpose; but be would not forbid one because he did not approve its objects. That is quite right in theory ; but does it not in practice involve the result that any Anarchist group which conceals its moral views until the crowd has assembled will be allowed to use Trafalgar Square ? We have no wish to interfere with the right of meeting, even for Anarchists; but they should not meet, even if their object is the peaceful destruction of all society, under the express permission of the Home Secretary.
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