We venture to say that the incident of Mr. Maxse
shows conclusively that we were right when, at the beginning of this business, we said thatthe proper way for Ministers to defend themselves from the allegations made against them, and to punish those who had made such allegations should they prove unable to substantiate them, was an action in a court of law. The law of libel is strong enough in all con- science to restrain the press and to vindicate the personal honour of those who are attacked. In a court of law Mr. Maxse's refusal to answer questions would have been met by no silly talk about the Clock Tower or punitive action of the nature of the old peine forte et duce. The judge and jury would have made up their minds as to the value of allegations about which men were not willing to give their names. In a word, the value of the evidence would have been assessed and adjudicated on by a tribunal competent to do the work.
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