MR. LLOYD GEORGE'S PREFACE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2567, 15 September 1915, Page 5

MR. LLOYD GEORGE'S PREFACE

"THROUGH TERROR TO TRIUMPH" POLITICAL SENSATION OF THE DAY IS A CRISIS PENDING? By Tele graph—Press Association—Copyright London, September 13. Mr. Lloyd George's preface to his collection of war speeches entitled 'Through Terror to Triumph" is the political sensation of the day. Returning members of tho House of Commons are eagerly discussing it. The "Pall Mall Gazette'' says: "The impression in political circles is that a crisis is impending. As the Cabinet is at present constituted, it is -unable to carry, a scheme for compulsory national service. It is evident that Mr. Lloyd Geforge has plumped for compulsion. The cleavage in the* Cabinet seems die-' tinct'and deep." "The -Times," "Telegraph," "Morning Post," "Standard, and "Daily Mail" warmly endorse Mr. Lloyd George's appeal, which they interpret aj national service. The "Daily News" complains t'hat Mr. Lloyd George, in his zeal to make a case, has unduly darkened the shades of his picture.

It is understood that Mr. Balfour is against compulsion, and that Mr. Bonar Law, Mr. Long, and Mr. Chamberlain favour it, but would be disinclined to press for compulsion if it caused a bad schism in the Government, as the country and Lord Kitchener are not committed to the policy. Some of the newspapers state that a section of Cabinet are in favour of the compulsory organisation of the manhood of the country. Owing to the history of the railway strike in Franco in 1910, they believe that tho power to call up men as soldiers would break 'any strike imperilling the national safety.. ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) (Rec. September 14, 5 p.m.) Londcn, September 14. ' "The Times," iu a leading article, snys: "Tho grave and thrilling words of Mr. Lloyd George will sink deep into the soul of the nation. They epitomise tho policy we have consistently uracd as essential to victory, and brand that complacent, unseeing spirit we have again aiid again stigmatised as the sure precursor of defeat.We iwish. Mr. Lloyd George's colleagues would ponder over his words, and emulate liis directness and good sense."

"CRAVE HEARING." (Rec. September 14, 9.50 p.m.) Tho "Daily Telegraph says: "The announcement has profoundly affected the public mind. Its publication three days in advance of the volumo for which it was written is unusual. IVwas plainly a, case of urgency. Tho Minister desired to put this view of the situation'before the country prior to the reassembly of . Parliament. Coming from tho responsible head of the Munitions Department, and one of the dominant personalities in the Cabinet, it is a grave utterance, and may prove to be one of those designed to create new situations. The nation has been allowed to fortify itself in a inood of relief and confidence regarding the munitions, due to Mr. Lloyd George's earlier and more hopeful announcement. Now Mr. Lloyd George, twice within a week, has stated that all is not well with the working of tho Munitions Act and the progress of the task the Act was intended to facilitate. That is gravo bearing." _ THE MINISTER'S PROBLEM. ' TRADE UNION RESTRICTIONS. (Rflc. September 14, 10.30 p.m.) London, September 14. The "Daily Chronicle" (Liberal) says: "Mr. Lloyd George is a most distinguished convert to compulsory national service, not alone—perhaps not even oliiofly—for military reasons; he believes that compulsion is necessary for industrial reasons. There has been a gratifying increase in the output of'munitions, but that is still below the Ministry's demands, and acceleration is impossible without the relaxation of all restrictive labour regulations, and without tl)e utilisation to a far -greater extent of the Unskilled labour. Recruits are still coming in faster than they can bo equipped. Lord Kitchener has just submitted to Cabinet an estimate of the number of troops required on-the Continent during 1916; This is a much larger force than is now there, and there is no reason to doubt that the voluntary system will yield all that is needed, but the advocates of compulsion are taking advantage of t'he present decline in the recruiting and the need for an acceleration of the munitions output to push their • panacea. Mr. Lloyd George has a profound faith in the workers' sturdy patriotism, and does not think that tiiey or other sections realise the gravity of tho situation. ' He desires to see t'he whole nation under orders." Paradoxical as itmay seem Mr. Lloyd George wants compulsory military service for industrial purposes; with a view to moving workmen under discipline wherever they are required.

"It is ominous that his suggestion shoud have been recevied with marked disfavour at Monday's conference at the Department of Munitions, whidh included employers, trade unionists, and representatives of tho,'War Office and Admiralty. An exhaustive discussion showed that owing to the unyielding attitude _ of some of the trade unionists regarding the suspension of restrictions, Mr. Lloyd George finds it almost impossible to reorganise ilie engineering industry. Several speakers at the conference concurred in the view that antional service in the workshops is now necessary. The trade union delegates, while desiring to ensure a larger output, did not conceal their aversion to what they consider to be forced labour." The conference will meet again. SEEING IS BELIEVING . TRADE UNION LEADERS AT THE FRONT London, September 13. The Press Bureau states that Lord Kitchener and Mr. Lloyd George arranged for eight parties representing the workmen employed in the munition areas to pay a four days' visit to France to see the imperative necessity for accelerating the output of munitions. Mr. Arthur Henderson, President of the Board of Education, lieaded the first party of. trade union leaders, which visited the firing trenches at the end of August, including a section where our advanced forces were facing the enemy on threo fronts. -Tito party report that the conversations . of the soldiers impressed them with the belief that an overwhelming supply of munitions .and a vast preponderance of prcjectilos were required in order, to shorten the war, and that the requirements of the Army were enormously in excess of all calculations. The party visited Ypres, which is a. mass of blackened, deserted ruins as tlio result of sheer wantonness. Will it need the sight of desecrated homes and violation of womanhood to convince tlio .British workman -that lie must put forth lii-s every effort if Britain is to be saved' the fate of Belgium and Northern France, or, what- is jnfillitiily wqi'so, to b« we'd from bsing

once of its citizcns to conclude a degrading and disastrous peace. The vast ir.ajonty of the industrial community is ?"'? "ts duty, but if the gallant fellows "t Tno front aro hampered l by slackness m the workshop disaster Will inevitably result. The soldiers, optimis--11 . a man, declared t'hat onco the lads 111 the shops realise the need they will work until-they drop so that w'e "ill not go sliort of munitions. RAILVVAYMEN'S DEMANDS. EXTREMISTS WANT 10s. PEE WEEK INCREASE. London. September 13. ■Ihe executive of the National Union or iiaihvaymen has commenced a week's conference at Swansea. Tlio railwaymen ask tor an immediate advance of 10s. weekly, exclusive of tlie war bonus. Xl:is jg typical of the extremist's' demands. ~ "^ 10 1 "Westminster Gazette" urges tnat the question should 1 be not allowed to drift into a dangerous dispute. Tho war bonus was given seven months ago, cannot fairly be regarded as an end to the wages question-.

A PEACE MOTION LOST. INCIDENT AT LABOURERS' CONGRESS. ( limes" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) London, September 13. At the Congress of the Amalgamated Labourers a resolution was tabled instructing the Parliamentary representatives to formulate and advocate terms of peace satisfactory to the working classes. .After the mover had spoken the closure was applied. The motion was lost, very few hands being held up in support of it. A MILLION DOLLAR STRIKE. GERMAN PLOT REVEALED. New York, September 13. The Dockers' Union lias revealed to tho Government a German plot to spend a million dollars in an endeavour to induce a strike of 2300 dockers. The "New York Worl'd" ; . alleges that Herr Dernburg was implicated in the plot. ■ I

(Rec. September 14, 11.40 p.m.) ' ( _ Now York, September 14. The "New York World" declares that the plotters hoped for a strike along tho waterfront of the. Atlantic seaports to prevent the shipment of munitions without awakening suspicion. They failed, owing to tho patriotism of the Longshoremen's Union's officers.