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Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17124, 20 April 1921, Page 6

A decision has been given by a French, Court which has greatly perturbed .the French Press. The "Revue des Deux- Mondes" printed an Unfavourable criticism of a play, "The Persians," and the author, M. Joubcrt, and the principal, actor, M. Silvain, sent, a reply. This : theeeditori r of the "Deux Monde's" refused to print, and MM. Silvain and Joubert applied to the Court and obtained an order commanding the 'editor of the review to print the letter. The importance of the decision is in the fact that it places the editors of reviews and /newspapers in this position—either they must allow their critics to criticise and publish replies, "an alarmng prospect in, view of the shortage of paper.," or they must cease to notice books, plays, and pictures. In England the freedom of criticism is Very wide. Provided a critio ,does not touch the private character of an author he may say pretty 'much what his*editor permits. The "Athenaeum'' was once involved in a law nut through its description of a book as "the very worst attempt at a .novel that has ever been perpetrated," but the criticised novelist lost his case. On the other hand an English jury once found that to; describe a play as ••immoral" wmch. in the jury's opinion,

was not immoral, was to be gnilty of libel on the private character of the writer. Criticism in England is, not free from embarrassments, but it is at least freer than in France.

One of the most striking passages in the speech made by the I>uke of Connaught at the inauguration of the new Indian Legislature was a reference to Amritsar, the scene of the notorious massacre of civilians by General Dyer. The Duke referred to the bitterness and estrangement that had been produced, and added: "The shadow of Amritsar has lengthened over the fair face of India. I know how deep is the concern -felt by his Majesty the KingEmperor at the terrible chapter of events in the Punjab. No one can deplore these events more intensely than Ido myself;" This may be understood to mean that his Majesty shares the opinion of the Government and of the majority of his subjects on the unhappy affair at Amritsar. The words of the Duke should go far towards removing the bitterness created by that affair, and by the agitation in defence of General Dyer's action.

Mr H. F. Wigram, who has been zealous in seeking to arouse public interest in the possibilities of aviation as a factor in national defence, is inaugurating a novel competition, particulars of which app3ar in another column. Ho is offering prises for the best essays on the subject, "The Use of Aircraft in the Defence of New Zealand." We do not suppose that New Zealand is so fortunate as to possess many, or any, people, who combine a knowledge of defence strategy and military tactics with a aound knowledge of aircraft, and it is accordingly not to bo expected that fne competition will yield much that will be valuable. We do not suppose that Mr Wigram himself expects more than that ho will lead a good many people to give some thought to a subject which is likely to be of very hijh importance to the Dominion in time to come. The more people who do think about it, the better. .