11 MAY 1918, Page 2

On Tuesday night it was arranged that Mr. Asquith should

move on Thursday that a Select Committee of the House should be appointed to inquire into the 'Maurice letter. As we write on 'Thursday morning iOe afto•at tbe iskttantagebf distatasing. die whole matter before' the dblsate' takes place, but 'We May nevier- theless make certain, remarks whielcseern tO na-to be.Of general application. In such circumstances as those in which the Govern- ment now find themselves, an inquiry ought certainly to be granted. Personally, we do not much like the proposal of an inquiry by tile Judges. Judges shorsd not be called into politics; ea/SKIS:11y when they seen-cede& for their on work. Moreover, to make Cabinet secrets public, as Mr. Asquith and Sir Edward Carson peintedout, a Rill *Mild: have to be passed. Many members of the House of Comae& are naturally in favour of a Select Committee, because an accusation made against the honour of Ministers intimately concerns the whole House. It must never be forbotten that Par- liament itself is a High Court, and it is very rightly jealous of its traditions and prerogatives.