MR. BADFOUR FOREIGN SECRETARY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2951, 11 December 1916, Page 5

MR. BADFOUR FOREIGN SECRETARY

SIR. EDWARD CARSON FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY STATEMENT BY MR. ASQUITH . - ' ..•'.' '■ (By Telceraph—P«ss Association—Copyright). : ' ' ■ , (Rec. December 10, 5.5 p.m.) . ' London, December 8. It is expected that Mr. Lloyd Gcorgo will complete his Cabinet to-night. Mr. Asquith will make a statement to the House of Commons on Tuesday. It is unofficially announced that Sir Robert Finlay (Attorney-General 1900-1906) will be the new Lord Chancellor. ' Mr. Asquith has received a letter from the King, conveying His Majosty's grateful appreciation of his long and distinguished service to the State.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. Mr. Asquith states that Mr. A. J. Balfour will bo Foreign Secretary. Lord' Robert Cecil will retain thoUudcr-Secretaryship —Renter. NEWSPAPER PREDICTIONS OF THE NEW MINISTRY. \_ (Rec. December, 10, 5.0-p.m.) London, Decembei; 9. The newspapers predict that Mr. Bonar Law will become Chancellor of the Exchequer, with Mr. S. S. Lover as Financial Secretary to relievo him of the chief burden of the work. Lord Derby will take the War Office, Mr. Austcu Chamberlain the Secretaryship for India, Lord Milner will go to the Admiralty, Mr. W. H. Long to the Colonial Office, Sir Albert Stanley to tho Board of Trade, and Dr. Addison tho Ministry of Munitions. Lord Doronport will be the new Food Controller. . Sir Edward Carson will probably be without a portfolio.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. STATEMENT BY MR. ASQUITH HISTORY OF THE NEGOTIATIONS. (Rec. December 9,5.45 p.m.) . *> London, December 8. ' Speaking at a meeting of the Liberals, Mr. Asquith said that there had been a carefully-engineered campaign against Viscount Grey and himself, but. ha acquitted any member of the Government of complicity in the campaign. He received Mr. Lloyd George's proposal for a smaller War Counoil on December 1, and replied the same day that the. Prime Minister must preside over such a body. Mr. Lloyd Georgo disagreed, and on December 3 the Unionist Ministors intimated that unless Mr, Asquith resigned they would resign. Mr. Asquith appealed to Mr. Bona.r Law to remain, and wrote to Mr. Lloyd Georgo on December 4 that he was not prepared to remain in the Cabinet as a spectator, and outlined certain proposals. Mr. Lloyd George accepted these, subject to the character of the personnel of the War Council. Mr. Asquith then consulted bis friends. He felt that tbo differences regarding the Prime Minister presiding at the War Counoil and the personnel of tbo Council wore irreconcilable, and so resigned. : Ho declined to join the new Government, because he felt that would be a source of weakness. The attacks on him would continue, and it would- bo better if he gavo the Government independent support from outside. In a masterly peroration he advised them all to avoid recriminations. Personally, he gave each and all credit for the best motives. "Above all," he said, "do all you can to facilitate the task which has fa'lcn to other hands."—Reuter. ...'.' The meeting passed a motion of confidence in Mr. Asquith, and also resolved to support the Government. Viscount Grey paid a tribute to Mr. Lloyd George's work. His relations with Mr. Lloyd George were such that he did not believe it possfble that; these attacks could be mado by those confessedly working for him.

: MR. BALFOUR'S NEW OFFICE STATEMENT BY VISCOUNT GREY. (Rec. December 10, 5.5 p.m.) London, December 0. Viscount Grey, speaking at the Reform Club, meeting, said that Mr. Balfour would be the next Foreign Secretary, Lord Robert Cecil retaining his position as Minister of Blockades. The speaker paid a high tribute to Lord Robert Cecil's able, single-handed, public-spirited dovotion to duty. "If Mr. Balfour is at the Foreign Office," said tire speaker, "I shall feel that tho wholo of the work in our relations with our Allies and neutrals will be in able and sympathetic hands."—-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. A MIXED RECEPTION (Rec. December 9, 5.20 p.m.) . London, December 8. Two hundred Liberal members of tho House of Lords and House of Commons were present at the meeting at th e Reform Club. Crowds witnessed their arrival, and accorded an ovation to Mr. Asquith, a few hysterical Suffragettes howling "Traitor 1" The women greeted Lord Haldaiw with cries of "Kaiser Haldane," and created considerable disturbance over Viscount Grey, whom the polico escorted. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. PRESS COMMENT ON MR. BALFOUR ■ (Rec. December 10, 5.5 p.m.) London, December II). Tho "Daily Chronicle'' says: "Mr. Balfour enjoys a European reputation, and Mr. Lloyd Georgo is fortunate in securing tho services of this great gentleman for this great office. Tho ravings of theNorthcliffo Press against Mr. Balfour aro *a gauge of tlio ignorance of these journals." The "Daily Mail" protests against tho inclusion of Mr. Balfour. "We do not want Lord Haldane and his friends in the iniddlo of tho blockade, or iti the peace negotiations. It was not very generous conduct on Mr. Asquith's part. This is a time of grave national peril, and we refuse Mr. Lloyd George the right "to draw lus Cabinet Ministers from all parties. Several energetio young Liberals have been prevented from serving Mr. Lloyd George owing to tho terrorism of tho 'Haldane Gang,' hut there are many distinguished Liberals in the now Government, who caro more for winning tho war than for party tricks."

Tho "Daily Mail' proceeds: The 'HaJdano Gang' has secured posscssviui of the Liberal Party funds and the party machine by the expedient of m'laintaining Mr.' Asqnitb as Leader ot the Liberal Party, pretending that .Mr. Lloyd Georglo is no longer Liberal. Ino Aequitk following will fail misertuAily when the trial of strength comes m tbo House of Commons." .The "Dailj- News" says: "iho appointment of Mr. Balfour and Lord IUV eijt Cecil will inspire confidence, not only m Britain, but in every Allied avnH neutral capital!. In the conduct ot dehcare negotiations tb,ero is no supcrku; in the Cabinet." The "Mowing Post" says: "The supremo need o ftbe moment is to reshape our wholes naval policy. .1 ho conduct of the war must be trusted to seamen. Tho Fa-reign Office must not dictate a policy, but obey instructions. The Navy must givo Greece a lesson without interference from the Foreign Office. Lord Grey has publicly acknowledged that the policy which had been enshrined in the DodaVation of London was a mistake." r TWO NEW MINISTERS. ANNOUNCED (Rec. December 10, 11.15 p.m.) , • , London, December 9. . Mr. Lloyd George, interviewed, said that he was gratified at tho result of the Liberals' meeting. It wo-uJd strengthen the country in the great taek it had undertaken. He did not intend t 0 rcp i y to the personal questions in Mr. Asquith's speech al'- Pall Mall. Lord Milner would be a member of the War Council, without portfolio, and Sir Ednjard Carson had accepted the Admiralty.—Aus.-N.Z. Cuble Assn. i■ ' ■ A ■WELL-ADVANCED PEACE INTRIGUE. , (lieo. December 10, 11.5 p.m.) London, December 9. The "Financial News" sfate.s that, according to city information, Mr. Lloyd George was only just im time to stop the peaco intrigue, which was very far advanced. If it had developed further it would have landed us in the most disastrous humiliation since the Battle of Hastings. No Minister within living memory over had behind.luni sucb a volumo of public confidence and devotion. " THE MAN OF THE ' HOUR " The "Spectator" says: "Mir. Lloyd George's own actions, _ tho force of circumstances, and his pent-up determination that the nation will win, have combined to place him iu a positicn such as no statesman in our history occupied. The whole nation is behind Mm. Those who distrust his methods are as determined as those who believe in him. Ho is the man of the hour. Give him an untrammelled chance and the ball is at our feet."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. "A LEAP IN THE DARK" (Rec. December 9, 5.50 p.m.) London, December 8. The "Nation" describes Mr. Lloyd George's advancement as "a leap in the,'dark." Last week "ho proposed to divide the Coalition Cabinet into*two parts—the first and unimportant part would consist of the Prime Minister and his colleagues. The second and vital part would consist of himself and three inconspicuous civil associates, charged with ; the sole direction of the governing. The King was to yield to the reigning King, whose nominal veto would have gone the way of all votoes. It might have been used to fir Mr. Lloyd George's primacy and nlacehis late chief at the mercy of the war directorate. The demand on Usquith was not only to depose himself, but to servo, shorn and blinded, in tho temple of the real successor. The Mysterious Hand. "The hand which made the Coalition has struck it down, and now aspires to run its successor with such help as it can command from the relics of the tremendous straddle between Tory Imperialism jind Labour, and from Parliamentary snipers to whom it has long been Sfgnaller-in-Chief. Mr. Lloyd George has not beaten tho Germans, out has destroyed-two British Governments, and some of the liberties of the British people. His bustling vigour and adroitnoss impressed themselves on the popular mind in contrast with Lord Northoliffe's hourly presentations. His colleague:; are a mass of senility and incompetence. This falsity with its quantum of truth now stands for trial." —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. . STORY OF THE MAJOR DIFFERENCES (Rec. December 9, 8.25 p.m.) L ondon, December 8. An official report amplifies the negotiations which passed between Mr. Asquith. and Mr. Lloyd George. On Sunday_ they tried to accommodate their views, which differed on two points—first, in relation to the Prime Minister and the War Committee; second, tho War Committee's personnel. Mr.Lloyd George wanted to exclude some and include others, and there was a strong sharp difference of opinion between them in this regard. There were various suggestions for endeavouring to solve tho first question. They did not attempt to solve the second. Finally, tho following arrangement was suggested: The Primo Minister to have supremo effective control of the war policy; tho War Committee's agenda submitted to him; the chairman to report tu him daily; tho Prime Minister to be able to direct tho War Committee to consider particular topics ( and proposals, all its conclusions to be subject to his approval or veto; he to attend the meetings at his own discretion. No agreement with Mr. Lloyd George was reached on Sunday, and the matter was left for consideration; Mr. Asquillh undertook to give Mr. Lloyd George a written communication ou Monday, but the newspapers on Monday morning published the proposal to exclude hinn from the committee. Mr. Lloyd George assured him that ho had no responsibility in counectiou with the publication. Ho accepted tho assurance, but the.fact'remained that tho thing becamo known. He wrote immediately to Mr. Lloyd George that unless tho impression was corrected' that ho was to be relegated to the position of being an irresponsible spectator of the war he could not go on. Mr. Lloyd George accepted tho suggested arrangement. r Mr. Asquith then consulted his colleagues and informed Mr Lloyd George that the War Committee could not possibly be made workable and effective unless the Prime Minister was chairman. Mr. Lloyd George himself disagreed. If the committee were reconstituted on a smaller basis Mr. Asquith would have considered that he himself must choose its members. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ' FRANCE'S POLITICAL MACHINERY: OVERHAUL FORESHADOWED. . ' Paris, December 8. The newspapers foreshadow that M. Briand will follow Mr. Lloyd George's aotion and overhaul tho French Govornmonfc machine.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable A6su. i ' '