Lord Robert Cecil summed up his criticisms by expressing his
belief that the enforcement of the ordinary criminal law would be quite enough if it really was enforced. In his view, there was "no need for exceptional powers." He did not think it was desirable for the Lord-Lieutenant to be a distinguished soldier unless he had "some very special administrative capacity." We may add here that our opinion coincides with that evidently held by Lord Robert Cecil, that Lord French has failed in the neces- sary administrative capacity. At the same time we admit that, as the Sinn Fein and Nationalist Press in Ireland is clamouring day by day for the removal of Lord French, his removal in the circumstances might look like a new and particularly weak concession. This is a point to be borne in mind, though we must say that on the whole we shall be glad to see Lord French replaced.
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