NEW WAR CABINET

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

NEW WAR CABINET

ANNOUNCEMENT OF : RECONSTRUCTION COALITION IN DANGER MR. ASQUITH AND MR. LLOYD GEORGE London, December 3. •Mr. Asquith's audience with the a-uig has accentuated the feeling that great political changes are ponding, ■lhe conduct of the war is causing so much dissatisfaction that the life of the Government is threatened at an w y £ ate - The st a te mont that the War Council is being reduced has caused some satisfaction, as the necessity is realised for a small strong body, capable of rapid and effective decisions. Sir Edward Carson would' infuse vigour, but the driving force of So !ru °, t ;' llerß mentioned is questioned. The "Observer" says: "Many people think that Mr. Asquith no longer embodies tho will-power and energy necessary to prosecute the war'to a successful issue." It suggests that Mr. Asquith may find a way out by undertaking to supervise the administration and entrusting Mr. Lloyd Gqorge with full direction of tho war and of everything vitally concerned-with it, whilo Mr. Bonar Law's position in the Government will be much enhanced, and adds: "The crisis will not fail to produce by ono means or another a supreme national effort to win the war." The paper also contends that shipping and shipbuilding unquestionably require a Ministor to themselves. "Reynolds's Newspaper" states: "It must not be forgotten that after Mr. Lloyd George siicceeded in arranging a settlement of tho Irish difficulty, the Cabinet threw him mercilessly over, without any real explanation, at any rate so far as tho public was concerned. The "Week!? Dispatch'' foreshadows the employment of Mr. Asquith's gifts I more in an administrative than in an executive capacity. It <vas rumoured later on Saturday night that Mr. Asquith wo\ild possibly resign to enable a new Coalition Government to be formed. The "Sunday Times" says that whether reconstruction will be marked by Mr. Asquith's retirement is at present doubtful. There is a strong feeling that lie should femain at the head of. tho Cabinet, while delegating the chief direction of the war to a inore energetic colleague. This would minimise tho uneasiness that any Cabinet reconstruction must cause atnona; the Allies and neutrals—Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. RECONSTRUCTIONOFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED, (Rcc. December 4, 8.5 p.m.) London, December 4. Official.—Mr. Asquith, in view of ensuring a more effective prosecution of the war, has. decided to advise the King to consent to a reconstruction of tho Government.—Aust.-N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter. A STATEMENT PROMISED BY MB. ASQUITH. (Rcc. December 4, 5.15 p.m.) London, December 3. Mr. Asquith returned to London this morning. There is much activity in. Downing Street,_and successive Ministers are consulting with the Premier. Mr. Lloyd George visited Mn Asquith twice. The general impression is that he has not withdrawn his resignation. The Ministerial : conferences are still proceeding. It is officially stated that Mr. Asquith will probably make a statement to the House of ' Commons on Monday.— Aust.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE LATEST-COALITION IN PERIL MR, LLOYD GEORGE'S POSITION. (Ree. December 4, 8.50 p.m.) London, December 4. The latest news shows that the Coalition is in the gravest peril.' Mr. Bonar Law, Mr. Austen Chamberlain, Lord Curzon, Mr. \V. H. Long, tho Earl of Crawford, Mr.. H. S. Duke, Sir F. E. Smith, and Sir Edward Carson attended a meeting of the Unionist' Cabinet Ministers, when it was decided to send a letter asking Mr. Asquith to resign, otherwise the Unionists would leave the Cabinet and compel a Cabinet reconstruction. Immediately after the conference Mr. Bonar Law went to Downing Street and interviewed. Mr. Asquith, who had hurriedly returned from Walmer, where he had been spending the week-end. Later Mr. Lloyd George called, and the three Ministers . consulted together. To what extent Mr. Lloyd George and the Unionists are acting together is a matter of conjecture,- but it seems certain that there is an understanding between them. _. . •.. , A statement in "Roynolds's 'Newspaper," manifestly inspired, and doubt- . less written by Sir Henry Dyjziel to sum up Mr. Lloyd George's'position,' suggests that Mr. Lloyd George< ; will, appeal from the Cabinet direct to the people, and will probablv make a statement in the House of Commons. It is more likely that he will commence a campaign in a. large Midland town or his own constituency. He has certainly no intention of effacing himself. There is every indication that it will be a Lloyd George-Carson combination in favour ■ of a more vigorous prosecution of the w r ar. It is no secret that Mr. Lloyd George has not'been happy in the Cabinet for a considerable time, conscious ;that his efforts to secure a more vigorous prosecution of tho war have not received that support from certain quarters which he had a right to expect. Hiß strenuous battle for a greater production of munitions was never fully encouraged, and malignant personal attacks in the Liberal newspapers undermined) his influence with the working classes.—Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. WHAT MR. LLOYD GEORGE WANTED (Rcc. December 4, 11.45 p.m.) London, December 4: The "Daily Telegraph," writing after Mr. Asquith's announcement of the reconstruction of tho Government, says that tho situation improved later m the day. on Sunday. Now tberre is reason 'to beliovo that Mr. Asquith, Mr. Bonar Law, and Mr. Lloyd George will remain in their respective offices, Sir Edward Carson becoming a. member of the War Council and tho Cabinet without portfolio. The "Daily Chronicle" says:—"The changes in the Government will not bo mimorous. They will include a small War Council, with executive powers, and a strengthening of the labour element in tho Government. Mr. Asquith will make a brief statement in the House of Commons to-day. Possibly Mr. Bonar Law and Mr. A. J. Balfour will exchange offices. If so, the War Council will consist of Mr. Asquith, Mr ."Lloyd George, Mr. Bonar Law, and Sir Edward Carson. The "Chronicle" protests against the way in which Mr. Asquith is daily assailed with every circumstance' of vulgarity by the Northcliffo Press. The "Times" states that Mr. Lloyd ' George on Friday wrote to. Mr. As-

quith, proposing a War Committee, to have absolute control of the war, and consisting of himself, Sir Edward Carson, Mr. Bonar Law, and one Labour member—possibly Mr. Arthur Henderson., These would actively co-operate with' Sir John Jellicoe and Sir William Robertson. On Saturday Mr. Asquith informed Mr. Lloyd George that he was prepared to accept a reduction in the number of the War Committee, but was rraabte to accept the proposal that the Committee should have unlimited power over the conduct of the war. There were also difficulties regarding the proposed exclusions from the ComTnifctee. Mr. Bonar Law then informed Mr. Asquith that his Unionist colleagues supported Mr. Lloyd George. Lord Derby was also prepared to resign. _ Cabinet has not yet been consulted. Mr. Asquith will resumo the conversations with his colleagues to-day.— Aust.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ROOT CAUSES ANALYSED (Rec. December 4, 8.10 p.m.) London, December 3. The "Daily Telegraph,", discussing the root causes of the political crisis, says: "Every problem is traceable to the lack of organised man power. We now require a general levy on our man power, and possibly also on our woman power. The nation must bo organised from end to end, with the solo aim of winning the war. Owing to the partial failure of the harvest in America, wo must get most of onr grain from Australia, this necessitating a voyag© three or four times as long. In every direction the cry is for men —men are required to build battleships, merchant ships, and man both Fleets. There is now a tug-of-war between the Admiralty and the Board of Trade, both of whom stato that their difficulties arc due to the War Office, which has weakened the ship yards. Somebody must be appointed with superior authority to the conflicting claims of the Admiralty, War Office, and Board of Trade. The Admiralty, three years ago, decided that every merchant ship should be armed. The Admiralty was told that guns would be forthcoming when the requirements of the Army were satisfied. The publio demand for antiaircraft guus added to the additional embarrassment, and this created another impasse between three Departments. The office for controlling tho nation's food supply has been offered to half-a-dozen men, all of whom have refused, owing to their doubt regarding their power to over-rule the Admiralty, the War Office, the Ministry- of Munitions, and the Board of Trade. Regarding the question of aviation, the Navy claims tho right to manufacturespecial aircraft, and therefore must have complete control of its own air service. The Air Board claims that it must regulate the design and supply ■ all aircraft for the. Army and Navy. Under present conditions thero is undoubtedly an undesirable competition in placing orders for aircraft between the Admiralty and the War Office."— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Association.

WAR HARDSHIPS IN SCANDINAVIA

RECOURSE TO FOOD TICKETS. Stockholm, December! 3. The Scandinavian countries are seriously considering the foodi, problem. Prices havo risen abnormally in Norway and Denmark, and to a lesser degree in Sweden, which has adopted a limited system of food tickets. Tile maximum prices are now extending, owing to'the scarcity of butter, flour, and milk. A fixed standard has been sot for flour, the Government insisting on 75 pr cent, being extracted from wheat. A penalty of imprisonment will bo imposed for failure to observo the standard. The State controls the grain production next year. Norway has coped with the difficulty by instituting communal provisioning councils, largely run by women, aud successfully. War food stores havo been opened in many centres. —AustralianNew Zealand Cable Association.

KAISER IN A "HUFF"

WHY HE DID NOT ATTEND THE AUSTRIAN FUNERAL. • ' London, December 3. . According to the ''Daily Chronicle," Paris newspapers state that the reason for the Kaiser's absence from the funeral of the late Emperor of Austria was that he wished, as supreme chief of the German-Austrian Coalition, to lead the procession ahead of tho Emperor Charles, but this privilege was refused by an Austrian court protocol. The Kaiser immediately returned to Germany.—Australian-New Zealand Cable Association.

DARDANELLES INQUIRY

RESPONSIBILITY FOR CAMPAIGN INDICATED. London, December 3. The Dardanelles Commission's preparing an interim report in moderate terms, which, nevertheless, according to the "Sunday Times," fully indicates Mr. Winston Churchill's responsibility for the conception of -the expedition. A minority may insist upon an independent and. more pronounced report.— Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. ■

ZEPPELIN HEROES DECORATED

London,' December 3. Tho Distinguished Service Order has been awarded to Sub-Lieutenant Edward Pulling, and the Distinguished Service . Cross to Lieuteuant Egbert Cadbuxy and Sub-Lieutenaut Gerrard Fane,- of the Naval Air Service, in recognition of tho destruction of tho' Zeppelin on the, coast of Norfolk last Tues-day.—Australian-New Zealand Cable Association.

NEW ZEALAND MEAT IN LONDON

STATEMENT BY MR. MASSEY. London, December 3. Mr. Massey (Prime Minister of Now Zealand), interviewed' regarding the statement by the Piesidcnt of the Auckland Provincial Farmers' Union, regarding prices for Australian and New Zealand meat, says: "Tho comparison between tile prices is misleading. It has been made between those paid in New Zealand last season and those paid in New South Wales for the present season. As a matter of feet New Zealand received a higher price for mutton and equal for lamb as compared with Australia. When tie comments were made the Government was actually negotiating for higher prices for tho ensuing season. New Zealand now received 5 3-Bd. for mutton against Australia's 5 l-Bd'., and 6Jd- <«d 6 3-Bd. for lamb against Australia's 6 ]-Bd— Australian-New Zealand Cable Association.

BRITISH WAR FINANCE

A DEAL WITH AMERICA VIA y JAPAN. London, December 3. A publio issue has been arranged of ten millions sterling'in British Exchequer bonds in Japan, with a view to getting dollars by remitting the proceeds to America Tho issue has. a three-years' currency of 6 per cent, par value, with no collateral security.— Australian-New Zealand Cable Association.