The Dominion. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1916. STRONGER MEASURES NEEDED

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2946, 5 December 1916, Page 4

The Dominion. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1916. STRONGER MEASURES NEEDED

Accounts »s yet given of the nature and scope of the British Cabinet crisis arc somewhat contradictory. While sorno newspapers credit Mr. Lloyd George with an intention of forcing the issue by resigning, others categorically maintain that rumours of drastic' Cabinet reconstruction are unfounded. It is agreed, however, that the current agitationis not likely to bo allayed by anything less than a reconstruction and reorganisation of tho War Council—consisting at present of Mr. Asquith, Mr. Balfour, Mr. Lloyd George, Mr. Bonar . Law, and Mb.' M'Kenna—which would presumably involve an important extension and enlargement of its powers. Whether, bigger changes are in prospect is for the moment an open question. 11% Lloyd George, upon whom, as the Mantiieslcr Guardian remarks, tho 1 course-' of events depends, has not 'yet shown his hand, but there is certainly no occasion for regret over tho prospect of. a reconstruction of the Imperial Cabinet. A belief is manifested in some quarters that a change o'f.leadership and reconstruction of the British Ministry would amount to a confession of weakness, -ind would, as one commentator puts it, cause uneasiness among the Allies and neutrals. Looking at the matter, however, from tho standpoint of national efficiency, it must appear that such fears are idle. It is at best an ostrich policy to assume that an appearance of unanimity is a blessed thing and covers ■ a .multitude of shortcomings. Being 'engaged in a life-and death war it is our business," not to study surface appearances, but' to promote efficiency in every possible way. If a better and in particular, a more enterprising Cabinet can be obtained at tho cost of a certain amount of wrangling and political upheaval it will be cheap at the price. It does not much matter whether the Government, is called National or bears some other title so long as it tights the war with unsparing vig : our and determination. The British newspapers whose- comments upon the position ■. are cabled lay much less emphasis than it deserves upon the fact that, the war has,created its own- political standards. In general, though with some regrettable exceptions, the political dissensions, and divisions that formerly ruled arc laid aside. People who formerly would have; been swayed by all sorts of detail considerations now care-only for the efficient prosecution of the war. Few indeed will refuse to applaud' the statement of the London Observer: The crisis will not fail to produce by one means or another a supreme national effort to'win the war."

_ Tho worst feature of the existing situation is not the possibility that leaders may fall, and rise, but the somewhat general tendency to give undue weight to other considerations than the fitness and suitability, under existing conditions, of the men available as leaders. But for this much might be hoped for in ths> outcome. of ■■ sweh a crisis as has arisen, the more so as the- crisis seems to have been precipitated by a movement for reform from within. It- is true that events in the southeastern _ theatre are showing forth the fruits of,tho indecision and delays for which the British Government has been very largely responsible. But it is apparently not as a result of any condemnation or criticism in connection with late events that the stability of the British Ministry has been shaken, but rather as the result of an awakening, in which politicians partici-. pate, to the fact that tho time is ripe for change and amendment in the political conduct of tho war. Plainly enough a Cabinet based on compromise and given over to endless temporising and delay is an' anachronism in view of tho position which Britain now occupies and the grave problems by which she is still faced. Such a Cabinet falls miserably short of doing justice either to the spirit of the people or to the power and spirit of. tho splendid forces which Britain now has available for land and sea war. Account must be taken of what has been achieved under the National Cabinot as well as of defects and failures. But it is the simple truth that in spite oE all that hao been done we cannot afford to suffer a continuation of that "delicato fumbling" which has reached its most remarkable development in our dealings with Greece and perhaps has even now not done its worst in that country. A bold and onterprising policy during tho next year' may avert years of war and Cabinet reconstruction on the right lines holds out promise in this direction. A reconstructed Government would possess the advantage of starting with a clean sheet, it would not bo fettered by past policy or action, and tho very fact of the necessity for reconstruction would; of itself carry conviction to the public of the urgency of the call for strong-

cr and more vigorous measures in the prosecution o£ the war. At tho moment wo are quite in the dark as to the extent of tho changes iu prospect, but it does seem that they aro to he of no minor nature, and that they will mean a material departure from tho methods of dalliance and compromise which have so ofton afforded grounds for criticism and discouragement in tho past. '