PRINCIPLE OF COMPULSION ADOPTED

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2657, 31 December 1915, Page 5

PRINCIPLE OF COMPULSION ADOPTED

CABINET TENSION EASED REARRANGEMENT OF PORTFOLIOS PROBABLE By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, December 29. The newspapers' announcement that Cabinet had adopted the principle of compulsion has eased the public tension. Opposition to compulsion lias notably decreased during the last few weeks, even in extreme Radical circles. This is largely, due to'vtho. silent, pressure of the millions who attested in ' Lord Derby's groitps'ind: their friends.', The unmarried men who joined, as well as the married men, feel tliey are directly interested' in the fulfilment of Mr. Asquith's pledge; they have realised the growing seriousness of the military situation. Another factor in this is also seen in the rush to the recruiting offices after the holidays, due to men home on furlough from France showing their friends the necessity for the strongest national effort. When the Cabinet's decision was announced the first impression was that a number of resignations were certain. Pourparlers yitli the dissentient Ministers followed in Cabinet, and there have been no immediate resignations. There is now a general hope that the crisis will be averted, though it is thought that some rearrangement; of offices may follow. ■ The appointment of a member of the Cabinet to the Viceroyalty of India is expected (in place of Lord Hardinge). MR. ASQUITH HAS THE* SUPPORT OF THE MAJORITY OF THE CABINET. (Rec. December 30, 11.15 p.m.) ■v London, December 30. It transpires that the majority in the Cabinet supporting Mr. Asquith is laTger than expected, and includes Mr. Henderson, Lord Kitchener, and Mr. A. J. Balfour, whose predilection for the voluntary system is-well known. Other questions of public discussion are the possibility of Cabinet resignations, arid tie voting strength of the Opposition in the House of Commons. It i 6 understood Mr. M'Kenna bases his opposition partly on personal doubt as to the size of the army Britain requires to wm tho war, and partly on financial commitments. Sir. Runciman regards volumo of trado as an indispensable factor in war equipment. Mr. M'Kenna's and Mr. Runciman's supporters generally anticipate their resignations, but Mr. Asquith has a wonderful knack of keeping his flock together. NECESSITY FOR COMPULSION ACCEPTED BY LABOUR PARTY. London, December 29. The leaders of the Labour Party accept Mr. Asquith's decision regarding the necessity for compulsion, but the party will meet early to discuss the matter. It is anticipated that only a noisy Socialist section, under Mr. Snowden and Mr. Ramsay Macdonald, will eventually oppose the Government. Possibly Ireland will he'left out altogether, though there is tho question whether the exclusion of Ireland will mean the exclusion of Ulster, which would be a bitter pill for the Northern Provinces. TWENTY-THREE CLASSES OF SINGLE MEN TO BE CALLED UP. London, December 29. The "Daily News" states that twenty-three classes of unmarried men must be called up before the married men can claim the protection of the pledge. "With only a million and a quarter men in the field out of three millions under arms, there can be no question for months of a shortage of reserves,' even with the net wastage in the interval. There is, _ therefore, ample time for a determined effort to avoid compulsion, which will be strenuously opposed in tho House of Commons. •, I COMMENTS BY LONDON NEWSPAPERS. (Rec. December 30, 8.30 p.m.) ■ London, December 29. It is still believed in some quarters that actual conscription is unnecessary, and that a compromise will probably yet suffice. The "Westminster Gazette" hopes that the compulsiomsts will not regard the Government decision as a triumph for their principles, but as a purely emergency war measure. , . , The "Evening Nows" says: "Traditional objections to compulsion.have been swept aside by the revelations of tho war, and that the Empire's need at the moment makes it necessary for victory. \ _ The "Globe: "Only fools and fanatics would question the justice of tho decision, which will have p. desirable effect in the Allies realising that England is at lost warring in earnest." The "Evening Standard" believes that tho decision will be thoroughly popular in the country generally. c . ' The "Pall Mall Gazette" says the method most favoured' is to compel unmarried men to attcßt under Lord Derby's group_ scheme within a fixed period. Thus, volunteers and conscripts would be placed m the same position. •RADICAL OPINION SUMMED UP. , (Rec, December 30, 11.35 p.m.) London, December 30. The "Manchester Guardian" in a leader summing up a considerable body of Radical opinion, says: "We recogniso that for tho purposes of the present war Britain is no longer- an island; we must meet Continental armies with nil army on a Continental scale. Wo admit compulsion may bo necessary under certain circumstances, but wo are not going co accopt it on tho demand of clamour, and we are not going to be hustled into conscription. Lord Derby's scheme has iiot yet been fully utilised or analysed.'" CRISIS MAY PASS WITHOUT MINISTERIAL' RESIGNATIONS. (Rec. December 30, 10.30 p.m.) London, December 30. The "Daily Chronicle" says the situation lias eased, and the crisis may pass without the resignations of Ministers. Sir Edward Groy, ivhn specially dreads any weakening of the solidarity of the nation, is endeavouring to act as conciliator, but much depends on Mr. M'Kenna and Mr. Runciman, whose withdrawals would be grave, whilo thojr retention iu the Cabinet wtmld ftwlfl' tato the smooth, nasiiiße of .the ComuulpjoA BuU