LIBERALS AND NATIONAL SERVICE.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SDECTATOR."] SIR,—May I, as a Territorial officer and a supporter of the National Service League, express my gratitude to you for your powerful article on "National pervice by Consent"? Such a message of true patriotism, one can only trust, will be brought to the notice of the leaders of both of the great parties. To the Unionist Party it must carry a warning that rash and premature adoption of national service may do irrevocable damage to the cause of national defence, in so far as the association of compulsion with Conservatism may open the floodgates of misrepresentation. To the Liberal Party the article must, by the cogency of its arguments, prove the necessity, the justice, and the practical advan- tages of universal military training. If the leaders of the Liberal Party persist in shutting their eyes to the force of such arguments, may I bring forward proof to show that the Liberal rank and file are not so blind as to be content to be led by blind leaders ? On November 20th I was present at a meeting in the Lodge Lane Liberal Club, Liverpool. At the conclusion of the speaker's address, the Chairman, a well- known Radical councilor, joined the National Service League as a member, and his example was followed by all Liberals present, who joined as associates. Such tangible support by good party men seems to me to show that your suggestion of a conference of political leaders on this vital question would be welcome to moderate and thinking men of all parties.-1
am, Sir, &c., B. S. TOWNROE. Winmarleigh Street, Warrington.
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