D.O.R.A. Under Criticism
Some of the Defence of the Realm Regulations issued by the Government on September 5th came in for severe criticism from all quarters of the House of Commons last Tuesday. There was no disposition anywhere to deny that in time of war it is absolutely necessary that the executive should be armed with extraordinary powers. But Parliament exists to watch that these powers are not carried beyond the point of necessity, or in such a way as to interfere with legitimate liberty. One of the regulations referred to, confining people to their houses between certain hours in case of need, embodied no important principle—it is merely arbitrary, unnecessary and absurd. Far more important is that relating to the propagation of opinion, which clearly gives powers to the Government in the sacred sphere of opinion capable of intolerable abuse. Another regulation, giving power to imprison without trial, is obviously repug- nant to the British mind ; but it should be remembered that the I.R.A. outrages at one time assumed a form which seemed to make some such provision essential to public safety. In the end Sir Samuel Hoare wisely promised consultations with the party leaders with a view to modifying the terms of the orders and removing their objectionable features.
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