Another section of the private instructions to the Irish &in-
atabulary has been published in Ireland, and has caused much hostile comment. The first part eis only an ordinary order to keep a register of suspected persons, and whenever they leave a sub-district, to transmit a description of them to the sub- district they select to reside in. That is necessary, if watch- fulness is to he real at all ; but there is more doubt about the next order, " The Constabulary are to keep a close supervision 42_n those persons [suspects and others likely to commit crime].
he efficient policeman will always keep on good terms with those persons, as from them, if judiciously managed, valuable information may be obtained." That sentence is probably in- tended only as an order to use the usual resources of de-
tectives, who are necessarily spies, and necessarily also coax or buy information from accomplices; but as applied to poli- tical offenders, it undoubtedly seems to sanction a very odious form of espionage. It must be remembered, however, that in. Ireland the police are always in uniform, and the suspects know to whom they are speaking, and the use that will be made of their information. It is a significant sign of the times in Ireland that no order can now be kept secret for a week.
