MALTA—BUT NOT IRELAND.

New Zealand Tablet, 8 April 1920, Page 43

MALTA—BUT NOT IRELAND.

It was reported in the British press a few days ago (says the Glasgow Observer of recent date) that on ■ December 3 his Grace the Archbishop of Malta, the Chief Justice, the official members of the Council, the President of the National Assembly and elected members of that body all had interviews with Lord Milner; that the elected members were all “highly satisfied” with the result and that Lord Milner listened with sympathy to various suggestions made by them, while he assured them that “the new form of government would be on a most liberal scale.” So far, so good. Our rulers have lent a ready ear to the reasonable demands of a tiny outpost ,of the British Commonwealth (commonly called the Empire), intensely nationalist in sentiment and devotedly Catholic, and have granted Home Rule in a very full measure to a population of, at most, a quarter of a million. But principles which apply in the Mediterranean apparently do not carry force in the Irish Sea. Malta had only to ask and her request was granted. Ireland has suffered for centuries and is still awaiting the democratic justice. of which many politicians talk so glibly—when they have an axe to grind. Prussian tyranny roused such people to an apparent white heat of righteous (?) indignation, but oppression at home not merely leaves them cold but seems the guiding principle of their policy. What is the ultimate inwardness of it all? The Times and Ireland. If the Times (of all papers) could declare the other day that “there is strong prima facie evidence of the existence of a powerful conspiracy against the prospect of, an Irish peace,” things must be bad indeed. The Times further states its fear that the Irish Executive are being used, “whether with the connivance of members of the Cabinet or not,” to stir up a state of feeling, or even rebellion, that would make peace impossible. Of course that has been the belief of millions, both in and out of Ireland, for long; but when the Times takes up this position the belief must be fairly general throughout the country. When the whole abominable story of trachery and brutal force comes to light it must sooner or later —it will be a frightful revelation. And all this series of crimes against a nation is done at the bidding of a small clique whose hatred of the Faith is only surpassed by their love of ascendancy and selfish power. The end of their long lease of authority is overdue, and the reckoning will most surely have to be paid in full.

Although Lord French failed to destroy the power of Germany,: he is well on the way towards success in destroying the last vestige of English rule in Ireland. His regime of savage repression is splendid propaganda for Sinn Fein. Canadian Freeman. .