AN ENGLISH EDITOR’S VIEWS.

New Zealand Tablet, 4 December 1919, Page 11

AN ENGLISH EDITOR’S VIEWS.

; Til© editor of the London Sphere , Mr. Clement Shorter, has been travelling- through the United States. Evidentiy Mr. . Shorter , used his eyes . and ears intelligently while here- (says the New York Journal). , In a communication printed in the Westminster Gazcite Mr. Shorter says: • • A small paragraph in the newspapers announces still further heroic efforts in Prussianism in Ireland—including the suppression in Cork County of such purely educational agencies as the Gaelic League. ; . “I recently travelled the whole breadth of the United States, and was amazed at the effect of Irish propaganda in every city. That small paragraph, almost lost in English newspapers, is the outstanding item of British- news in every journal across the water, especially in the West. “It is supported by startling headlines. The English visitor seeks vainly for any news from these isles other than prominently printed cable despatches on some aspect of the Irish misgovernment. This applies as much to proEnghsh journals as to those of the Hearst press, which usually have the largest sale in every city from New York to San Francisco. “If we do not stop this provocative policy with regard to Ireland, it is perfectly clear to me that we will be at war with America within ten years. “That statement will be repudiated, I know, by such pro-English journals as the New York Times and the Tribune, which last is more English than we are English but • quite ineffective. ’ “But in accepting consoling statements as are carefully selected for quotation in this country by American correspondent, we are living in a fool’s paradise. They do not represent one per cent, of the population of the United States.’? The London editor is right about American sentiment toward Ireland. He is also right in believing that the resumption of the brutal tactics of coercion will undo, and more than undo, all the British propaganda work done by “such pro-English journals as the New York Times and Tribune i A wholesale repetition of imprisonments, shootings, and hangings in Ireland will undo not only the pro-English work of these pro-English New York papers, but all the pro-English work of all the pro-English propagandists in America, foreign-born and native-born. Such organisations as-the Pilgrims, the National Security League, tho American Defence Society, and the minor imitations of those propaganda bureaus, will have spent all their time and money in vain, if the English Government they adore is foolish enough to try again to drown Ireland’s yearning for freedom in the blood of Irish men, women, and children. The tactics of “Bloody Balfour” cannot again be -employed without rousing the fierce indignation of Americans. Of course, such tactics would be excused and even applauded by the associations we have named and by the New York journals the London editor very truly characterises as “more English than we are English.” But we do not have such associations or such newspapers in mind when we speak of Americans. Wo mean Real Americans.