" VIEWS OF THE WAR OFFICE.
(To THE EDITOR OF THE GLASGOW HERALD!)
Sra.,—At such a time as this one cannot honourably remain silent, and the able article of your correspondent in to-day's Herald leads me again to contribute to this subject. It may be remembered that in the early days of the war I strongly urged upon football authorities to adopt measures to stop the game. The Scottish and English Associations at first point blank declined to entertain the idea, but latterly, overcome by the force of public opinion, they sought shelter in an appeal to the War Office. The report given by the S.P.A. deputation to their meeting on their return from the War Office stated that they found that the military people, instead of wishing the closure applied to football, rather favoured its continuance.' (I quote the newspaper report.) I had every reason to doubt this, and an answer which I had from the War Office to an inquiry made there contained in a letter from the Under-Secretary, Mr. Tennant, throws a different light on that interview. Mr. Tennant states : `That no objection is taken by the military authorities to occasional recreation. It is considered, however, that professional football does not come within that category, and that it can only be admitted on grounds of contract or employment. It is much more desirable that professional foot- ball players should find employment in his Majesty's Forces than in their old occupation. With regard to the question of breach of contract, it is considered that this is a time when all should be prepared to make sacrifices.' It is quite clear that the War Office does not favour the continuance of football. The only question is: How are the players' contracts to be legally terminated ? The football authorities have landed themselves in a discreditable position through failing to grasp the matter thoroughly. There are various ways and means of ending the football contracts. If the men will not give them up voluntarily, I am convinced that if the English and Scottish Football Associations jointly memorialised the Government an Act of Parliament would be passed in half an hour on the ground that the continuance of football is prejudicial to recruiting, and anything but creditable to everyone connected with it. Unless football is stopped, when the history of the war comes to be written a stigma will remain upon a splendid game which will never be lifted, and those in football authority will have been the cause of it.—I am, &c., Taos. Foasyra, Chairman, Airdrieoniano
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