JUSTICE AND DUTY

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 110, 12 May 1919, Page 8

JUSTICE AND DUTY

TREATMENT OF CONSCIENTIOUS

OBJECTORS.

In tho courao of a reply to a correspondent who wrote regarding theVtrea tmerif? of conscientious objqetors, Sir James; Allen says:— ' '.",'..'' r Tv

"I can only say that it seems inevitable" that thero must be* a difference of opinion about tho conscientious objectors. \ it appears to mo that you look for justice on one side only; but I cannot conceivo how a conclusion can bo como to as to-what is just without reviewing tho wholo position. "We.havo.had, to hg-ht for our liberty, and I think you will agree with me—now that we have seen something of the Peace terms and tho Covenant of the League ;o£ Nations—that wo may-, hope ih'e Iwar'ias. iiot been in vain. The eacrificcs have been immense, but if. we ca-n. secure pca'co for the future it will bo some reward. Yoa can scarcely contend, that bo favourable a. peace could, have been secured until wo had won in the fight. Having gone so far, you must also concede that, we could not win without the men to fight for us. There scorns to bo onjy one just conclusion that ono can arrive at—that is, i£ a iiation has to fight for its freedom.and liberty, every one of its citizens should be prepared to take his part in the fight. You know that if our citizens objected to combatant service, we offered them opportunities to talc© non-combatant work .with the Army. If they have refused that they have refused.to do their citizen! .duty^7 _.„ "So far as 'the British Constitution is concei-nsd, it oould not bo in existerico bufel for the fact that wo have won this; fight." :