Unfortunately, however, for the Government speakers, the moment they proved
this they stood self-condemned. If things were as bad as they had proved thorn to be, why did not they take action ? That was the question with which-the debate was punctuated, and there is no getting away from it. The Government have their remedy, and it is a most powerful and complete remedy, in the Defence of the Realm Act. They can do anything they like with any newspaper which encourages the enemy, depresses people at home, and spoils our face with allies and neutrals. But the Government, whom experience has shown the public will trust up to any point in matters of firmness, instead of taking action, are content to go to the House of Commons and indulge in a scolding match—a scolding match conducted, no doubt, with sincere feeling by two such right-minded men as Sir John Simon and Lord Robert Cecil, but still a scolding match.
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