The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-20

Dublin, March 27-John Denton Pink stone, Viscount French of Ypres, did his
 share toward the salvation of Europe
 when he thrust back the German hordes in the two great battles around that town.
 From Europe he has turned back to Ire land, and is now at Viceroy doing his
 share to try and secure the peace and
 tranquility of his native land
 It is unusual for an Irishman to be ap-
 pointed Viceroy of Ireland; since the
 late Marquis of Londonderry held the
 post more than 30 years ago the dignity
 has usually been conferred or English
 men or Scotchmen, but Lord French was
 called to it in abnormal times. It was
 in May of last year, when the Germans
 were within 15 miles of Amiens, and were
 gathering their forces to strike the
 French on the Aisne when the American
 millions were only beginning to come
 into the field, when Great Britain was
 raising the age for military service to
 50 years, and sending grandfathers into
 the ranks, that the British government
 announced that they had discovered con-
 elusive evidence of a German plot in Ire
 land. The Sim Fein leaders were ar rested without disturbance, but an inSur-
 rection might have broken out at any
 moment and it was plain that the critical | situation COulQ OHly DC naHuieu Dy d SOi-
 di(er who knew Ireland well. Fortunate ly Lord French was at hand; as com mander of the troops in the British Isles he had been charged with the su- pervision of the army in Ireland, and was cognizant of the measures taken to deal with armed rebellion, while the fact that he was himself an Irishman was some suarantee that his administration though necessarily stern would not be unsympa thetic.
 Naturally it was necessary to confer on him powers more extensive than those possessed by other viceroys who have often been mere figureheads. the power | lying in the hands of their nominal subor- dileate. the chief secretary, who repre- sents the Irish government in the House l of Commons. With his first chief secre- i tary. Mir. Shortt Lord Frenchs relations
 were not very satisfactory, but Shortt has l now been transferred to the British home office, and his successor, Ian Macpher- | son, has not only the advantages of youth and brains, but has previously worked 1 harmonously with the viceroy when he ! wa|s under secretary for war. For the
 rest, Lord French has sought his ad- visers mainlyoutside the ranks of the | Irish political parties, among men who, | th ough of different religious and party allegiance, share a conservative outlook | on life as a whole Possibly these ad- | ViSerS have been drawn rom too HdT ! row a circle Criticism has been directed against that poinO. but they are honest and disinterested, and for the most part | possess a good knowledge of the true de- si1ds and interests of the people of Ire l lanh
 i The primary purpose of Lord French's 1 administration has been successfully 1 achieved Ireland, a year ago turbulent 1 is How peaceful and orderly, at any rate on the surface. Unauthorized drilling has been suppressed. intimidation has beeh lessened, even if it has not disap- peared, and the law is effectively admin 1 istered Beneath the surface, things are less satisfactory, for the murder in Tip | perAry recently of two policeman who | were escorting a cartload of explosives by A gang of masked men, indicated that l theIe are sinister forces at work. Nor 1 ca the fact that nearly three-quarters l of dhe Irish constituencies returned Sim l Feihers be overlooked. Restoration o1 1 orddr and repression of crime were sui | ficien Int objectives for a wartime gov
 erna anent the days of peace require more