4 DECEMBER 1920, Page 1

The Government, as we have urged elsewhere, ought to make

every effort to obtain from the Vatican an exact definition of the attitude of the Roman Church towards murder. Now that France has also decided to appoint a diplomatic representa- tive at the Vatican, we should be sure of support in our demands. Meanwhile we notice that in Belgium the poison of the Irish propaganda works. Cardinal Mercier has expressed his sym- pathy with the oppressed Irishmen, and is helping to raise a fund for their relief. Naturally, propaganda which is not met by counter-propaganda is readily believed by foreigners. Never- theless, it is a sorrow to Englishmen that one of the first to be misled in Belgium is the able and distinguished Cardinal who played so noble a part in the war.