RECRUITING AT HOME

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2659, 3 January 1916, Page 5

RECRUITING AT HOME

COMPULSION BILL SAFE

By Telegraph—Prcse Association-Cosyrlßlt (Rec. January 2, 5.5 p.m.J London! December 31. Sir John Simon, Secretary for Homo '. (Affairs, was absent from both Cabinet meetings. Mr. M'Kcirna and Mr. Kunciman have decided that tliero is no 'reason for resigning, but Sir John Simon is reported to be considering tho position if ho has not actually tendered his resignation. Cabinet has adopted a policy regarding compulsion which is meeting with general approval. Mr. Asquith will have the support of a united Cabinet in the event of Sir John Simon's withidrawal. Official Labour circles are strongly hostile. In the event of the Labour Congress opposing tho Government's decision Mr, Henderson - will 'resign his portfolio of President of the Board of Education and his seat in the Cabinet. ' The Bill will become law before the end '<)f January unless there is unexpected opposition. » Great interest is being taken in the Conscription Bill. Cabinet met twico on Friday' evening. The newspapers understand that the Bill would compel all unmarried men under forty to join the army. ' AN EXCELLENT IDEA. KITCHENER TO EXPLAIN THE . NEED. - N : .. (Rec. January 2, 5.5 p.m.) London, January 1. It is probable that 'Lord Kitchener . will be-invited to attend the Labour —Conference on Thursday to explain the recessity for tho compulsion of unmar-: ried men. CABINET DIFFERENCES SOME FURTHER PARTICULARS. (Rec. January 2,'5.5 p.m.) London, January 1. Cabinet no longer fears a crisis involving general resignations, though it is agreed that Sir John Simon has resigned. ; It is understood \that Mr. M'Kenna and Mr. Rimciman made fresh proposals yesterday as to the ; condition of their acceptance of compulsion. They proposed that a lower limit should take the place of the contemplated expansion of the Army. After hearing Mr. •M'Kenna's and Mr. Runciman's arguments, ,and examining statistics, the Cabinet decided to<reconsider the matter on Tuesday morning. Some members desired the: Bill to apply to married men who had not attested, as well as to the 600,000 unmarried men, but this was regarded as going beyond Mr. Asquith's pledge, so Cabinet preferred to confine the Bill to .tho pledge. Mr. Henderson is holding aloof from the discussions of Cabinet. He colliders it is essential to redeem Mr. Asquith's pledge, but he regards himself a3; bound by the vote of the special Congress of Labour. . Members of the House of Commons generally do not desire to face a general election or break with the Coalition Government, but fear the rank and file and the Labourites who do not agree with tbem ; The resolutions by branch societies indicate that a 'strong feeling has still to be overcome before Labour can accept compulsion. The -.Irish Unionists strongly oppose -the omission of Ireland from the scheme on the ground that it would be a national 'disgrace. ' Tho Railway Clerks' Association has tabM a. resolution at the Labour Con'ference entirely disapproving of the policy of co-operation with other political parties in the recruiting cam-