Conscientious Objectors and the Land
It is stated that as part of the new agricultural drive just announced, conscientious objectors to military service are to be mobilised, apparently compulsorily, to work on farms. That is obviously a sensible step, and it will be regrettable on economic as well as other grounds if the success of the experi- ment is prejudiced by the hostility to such objectors which is being manifested in certain quarters. It is worth while re- calling the liberal spirit in which Mr. Chamberlain, as Prime Minister, referred to the clauses providing for conscientious objection when introducing the Military Service Bill a year ago. " We all recognise," he said, " that there are perfectly genuine and very deep-seated scruples on the subject of mili- tary service, and even if we do not agree with those scruples at any rate we can respect them if they are honestly held." The House of Commons cheered the statement, and made no , .2mur about granting exemption to conscientious objectors ho could satisfy the tribunals of their sincerity. That wholly creditable tolerance ought not to be abandoned under the stress L4 war. Local authorities who are dismissing on the ground of conscientious objection men who have been working satis- factorily for them for years are not acting in the interests of efficiency or following the wise lead given by the Government. Conscientious objectors of military age might well be asked to hand over to some good cause such as the Red Cross any excess of their earnings over what they would have drawn as pay and allowances in the Army, but to evict them from jobs that need doing is both uncharitable and shortsighted. Everyone's work is wanted today.
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