"No Truck with the Enemy."

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16219, 23 May 1918, Page 6

"No Truck with the Enemy."

Wo are told that tho Gorman and French agents who eonductod tho negotiations for tho exchange of prisoners, although each knew the other's language, refused to speak in any other languago but tlieir awn. They met as enemies, they transacted their business, and they parted as enemies. It is ,tho fault of the Germans, who have destroyed and, indeed, expressly disavowed everything in the shape of chivalry during this Trar, that there can be no relaxation of the feeling of enmity until tho Hun has been put in his place ani} taught that Hunnishness does not pay. A fow weeks ago throe Lutheran prelates—the Archbishop of Upsala, tho Bishop of Christiania, and tho Bishop of Zealand in Denmark—proposed a conference which, for Christianity in neutral and belligerent countries, was to be tho equivalent of tho Stockholm Conference of the International Socialists. This Council 0 f Federation, acting in the name of nil the Protestant/ Churches in France has—3o we learn from "The Times"—by a unanimous vote, returned «. dignified refusal. "At " a time when we are defended by our " heroic soldiers," they ■write, "wo can- " not bear the idea of entering j behind "the protection of their bodies, into "conversation, even in a roundabout "way, with other men whoso soldiers "are killing our sons and brothers, and " are still occupying portions of the " sacred soil of our country. This act " would appear to many of our fellowcitizens and to ourselves to deserve a "name we do not wish to -write in a "Jotter addressed by Christians to 'other Cliristians." They then go on to point out, in telling languago, that it I*3 not enough for tho honour of God and Christ that peace he made one day, that hostilities cease, and men go back to their daily task. There must be a s.tern condemnation of tho evil that has been dono, and humanity must be summoned to call good good .and evil evil. It must be summoned to condemn solemnly all violation for State reasons of the plighted word of international engagements. "If these " elementary principles were not bind- " on the Christian cousclTence, it " would he inferior to that of the com- " monest honest man, and ire will not " accept this humiliation for Him whom "we call the Holy and the Just." This is plain talk, but it is straight talk, such as every honest man must approve.