The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-07-03
E-pREMlER ASQUITH
(Cuntinued Prom Page one.)

armies in France and Flanders. purport-
ing to describe tho first year Of The
war, has made himself responsible for
attacks and aspersions. both upon the
living and upon the dead, which /. at
any rate, cannot allow TO pass without
an immediate and definite protest
(CheersO
cannot reca1l any parallel to this III
advised and unhappy literary venture
(Checrs.) Lord French is not only
field marshal on the active list OF the
army. but he occupies at the moment
one Of the highest and most responsible
posts in the civil service OF the crown
| He Is lord-neutenant Of Ireland, an or
Gee which has often. 1 agree. been more
or less Of a sinecure, and OF which the
| Duke of Shrewsbury said, as far back as
! the reign Of Queen Anne, there is not
enough business to keep one awake out
enough to prevent one falling asleep.
IIauEhter) That is not the case today
! ireland is ono Of the darkcst-think my
self II is the darkest-of the dark spots
ON the map. not only Of the British EN-
pire, but Of the world (Cheers)
And while the craftsmanship OF three
nations Is trying to find everywhere else
some foothold. some point OF new de-
partnrc for nationality. the chief gov
ernor Of Ireland. who one might have
thought would have been absorbed. or
at any rate would have tried to show
that he was absorbed. in his own over
whelming responsibilities, apparently
could find no better occupation for his
time and his energies than to Nil the
columns Of the papers with narrative
Of the early days of the war which / do
not hesitate, speaking with as much
knowledge as any man possesses
(eheers). to characterize here and now as
incomplete, partial, in NOSE serious re-
speets mislea6ln1l. and. as the Who'll"
world will soon See-indeed, as l shall
show today-in patent variance and IN
contradiction with his own spoken ana
written utteranccs in the past. tChecrsD
This in my Judgment iSIa very serious
matter. and il is rendered even more Sc
rtous by the fact that, while apparently
Lord French enjoys in his character or
field marshal complete immunity from
the restrictions and regulations which
amply to other officers on the active list,
Ia makes free use OF official and conf
dential documents to build up case
AGAINST those whose lips are closed in
sorne instances by death and in others
them but not TO him. (Checrs)
Omrp1ees Disclosure Sought.
feel 1t my duty to say that quite
apart from the merits or dement's. the
Justice OF injustice, the accuracy or IN
accuracy Of Lord F'rcnch's NARRATIVES. the
whole proceeding is the worst example,
and IL in fragrant contradiction TO the
best traditions OF our public service,
and Is manifestly lemcntably repugnant
| to tho elementary rules Of fair play.
(Cbeers) need hardly say to "Cu
| that do not make that protest from
any desire to avoid the fullest publicity
10 20 this or any part of the war Ijr
(which l have a direct or even the most
Indirect responsibility. On the con-
trary, / have the utmost confidence that
| complete disclosure OF all the facts is
the one thing needed for an RbSOlu.;
vindication against suggestions Of su-
| pineness, want of foresight. and lack OF
promptitude and energy both in council
and In action of the government If
which I was the head. (ChccrsD That
here and there mistakes were made.
things done which had better hav" boon
| omitted, things omitted which might
better have been done. is obviously tru".
II would be. in the uncxampled circum-
stances in which VIC were placed. not
| only n marvel. but miracle, If II had
been otherwise. But that is not the