If the question of Army reform were not so absolutely
vital to the safety and welfare of the nation, the action of the Government thereon would be extremely funny. Nine dayi ago Mr. Arnold-Forster introduced his scheme with apparent seriousness as a matter of great moment. On Thursday— that is, a week after—when Lord Burghclere in a temperate and able speech raised a discussion in the Lords, Lord Lansdowne, on behalf of the Government, airily informs us that the Ministry have no settled convictions in regard td Army reform. He must, he said, frankly state that the paper- i.e., Mr. Arnold-Forster's official Memorandum describing his scheme in detail—which their Lordships had before them " does not represent what can be described as the final opinion of his Majesty's Government upon many of the subjects to which it has reference." Then why in the name of wonder was it produced? The country wants to know what are the Government's views, not what are not its views on " many subjects." Apparently Lord Lansdowne and his colleagues' political creed is that of the American " boss " " Well, gentlemen, these are our sentiments, but if they don't suit they can be changed."
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