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Press, Volume LI, Issue 15338, 23 July 1915, Page 6

Since ho resigned in August 'ast. nothing lias been heard of Lord Morley. One of tho finest intellects of his day, and one of the most respected political figures of his time, ho has completely withdrawn himself h-om publicity, and one hardly ever sees his name in print. Xo statement has ever been made of tho reasons why he resigned, though it is taken for granted that it was because ho disapproved of the country going to war. But in tho "Labour Leader" Mr Keir Hardio iocords a conversation with him. According to Mr Keir Hardie, Lord tforley askod what wo should gain by tho war, and put two alternatives. "If wo lost, it would bo terrible, but if wo won, it would be still worse." That is to say, if wo triumphed over Germany, we should bo Prussianised. Again cno is reminded of John Bright' s raying that tho worst of great thinkers is that they so often think v.rons.

! Tennyson's phrase, "the craven fear of j being great." applies to this curious ! fram=3 of mind. A frauk avowal of Lord Moriey's ■present opinions on tho struggle would bo highly interesting. In fairness to him, it mu>t be remembered that when he said victory would be worse J han defeat, he had not that knowledge of German, ruthlcssness which the last eleven months have impressed on all save a few unbalanced minds. We should be very much surprised if ho did .".ot agree that the defeat of Germany was nec-essary, not only for the existence of Britain, but for the continuance of civilisation. Specially interesting to us would be his common to on the way tho Dominions have railieu to tho Empire, for many years ago ne committed himself to the rash prediction that it was absurd to suppose that the colonies would help the Motherland to tight for such au object »s. • say, the neutrality c f Belgium. The example he took has turned out to be a most unfortunate choice. But even if I/ord Morley cannot give entire approval to his country's policy, ne is at least keeping silence, and not. as others are saving anything to ombarrass the Government. An American visitor to New College, Oxford, recently was very much perplexed to find on tho roll of honour of those Mho had rnado the supreme rncrifiee in the war the names of three Germans* Probably they were Rhodes scholars. Ho complains in a letter to the "Morning i'ost" that the verger, who came alojicr at that moment, threw no light on wh.it he tonus the "unnatural situation" :— " Yes, he said, they wero Germais; very nice fellows, too. 'especially that one; I knew him well.' "'But, don't y<, u sec,' I broke in, 'it soys in tho ins.i-iption "pro patria?' , " 'Weli, , came the answer, 'they died for their country, didn't they?' *' To the An erican visitor it seemed a "strango perversion of tolerance," especially when he looked through the 'Joliego gateway, and saw numbers of wounded Butish soldicr s sitting under •the trees or making what use they could of their shattered limbs. "These soldiers," ho reflects, "ueio as we &aw them merely because the dciiberato aileaipt to lull them ma/Jo by tho com I raclo-s of those f-iennaus named in tiic ■College Roil of .honour Had slightly unseamed.'' Even a "Monitor of New College, ,, who « rote- to mo "Aloiiiuig i-Oii" vii the uuy seems to Us t° m i e » mo ponu. "xueae. uaracs," lio c-suu, *'aie not 'listed as candidates lor' iuo passor-Dy's tnouto oi piuise,' out as candiuaies ior iiis piaycis. 'iMeiumiio l'rau'td, iii Onrisui,' are the tiist woida oa tiio lioii, aud we surely neod not cany enmity beyond tne grave. Do not tiioso tiu cc de-ad. Germans need our prayers more rather tnan less it wo believo taat they vied iignting ior a wrong and mistaKen causer" mo trutii ia, it is tiic custom of Eugliaiinien to show respect to enemies wno have diod fighting honourably against them in , banio, and they havo not )<=t> had tinio to adjust - themselves to tie German point of view that in battle there is no chivalry, only hatred, treachery, and "murder most foul." In the early day s of tho war wo read an account of au inscription.in France placed by English soldiers: -"Here he five, brave German officers who died fighting for their Kaiser and Fatherland." But that was before the Germans used sas and sank the Lusitama. The greatc-st infamy connected with Germany in the conduct of this war ib the cynical and callous disregard of all honour and chirnlry on her own part, "and her evident" disbelief that such qualities can exist in others. That infamy will cling to her namo through tho ages.