13 AUGUST 1921, Page 3

On Monday the Government released J. J. McKeon from prison.

When it was originally announced that thirty-four Sinn Fein prisoners should be released as part of the truce in Ireland, an exception was made in the case of McKeon on the ground that he had been convicted of murder. The Govern- ment changed their mind apparently because of the feeling excited in Ireland. Every act of the Government in dealing with Ireland seems to be marked by confusion. Evidently when it was originally decided not to release McKeon the Government satisfied themselves that the exception would be regarded as reasonable. How could anyone, even a Sinn Feiner, expect the Government to release a murderer ?