MINISTER RESIGNS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3161, 13 August 1917, Page 5

MINISTER RESIGNS

MR. HENDERSON AND THE PEACE CONFERENCE HIS ATTITUDE. CONDEMNED STRONG PROTEST BY MR. LLOYD GEORGE The High. Commissioner reports:— London,' August 11, 3.20 p.m. Official. Mr. Arthur ' Henderson has resigned from tho War Cabinet, and his resignation has been accepted. (K-ec. August 12, 11.5 p.iu.) London, August''ll. Correspondence between Mr. Lloyd George and Mr. Henderson regarding Mr. Henderson's resignation has been nul> lished. ilr. Henderson, in tendering his resignation, wrote:—"! share your desire that tho war bo carried to a successful conclusion." Mr. Lloyd George, in his reply intimating that the King had accepted the resignation, said:—"There aro certain facts with which the public should be acquainted in order to form a oorrect appreciation of the events which have led to this regrettable conclusion. Tour colleagues woro completely taken "by surprise at tho attitude you adopted at the Labour Conference.' I was under the impression that you meant to use your influeiico against tlio meeting with enemy representatives at tho Stockholm Conference. This also was tho impression of your Cabinet colleagues and your Labour colleagues. Surely this was a conclusion :m which you should have informed Cabinet before entering the Labour Conference, as you were not a member of the Labour Party only, but a member of the .Cabinet responsible for the conduct of tho war. Nevertheless you did not doem it necessary to inform tho Conference of the views of your colleagues, and delegates woro accordingly justified in assuming that the advice you gave was not inconsistent with their opinions."

Mr. Lloyd George then points out that the, Government had received an important official communication from the Russian Government, stating that, although it was not deemed possible to prevent Russian delegates attending the Stockholm Conference, ■ its decisions would be in nowise binding on tho liberty of action of the Hussion Government. A covering letter added: "I hasten to lay this information before you, as it is feared that the impression . has hitherto prevailed that Russia ardently desired the Stockholm Conference, and this argument has been put forward in order to influenco Britisli public opinion in favour of the Labour and Socialist parties of Britain participating in the Conference." Mr. Lloyd George adds: "I immediately sent this communication to you with the roquest that you communicate it to the Labour Conference. You omitted to do so, though in the course of your speeoh you made a very casual reference to some modification in the attitude of the Russian Government. From these circumstances you action does not appear to have beeir fair either to the Government or to the delegates you were addressing. They were left in ignorance of a vital fact which must necessarily have affected their judgment." Mr. Hendei-son's reply deprecates his attitude at the Conference being made tho subject of controversy or recrimination. Hq adds: "I can only request tliat the public suspend judgment till tliev know the facts. Tf any statement is necessary it will be made in the proner' pkce-4he House of Oomi3!e».s." Even tlien (he concludes) his rtnrso 'will be influenced so far as It affects the nation's interests and -the successful prosecution of the war.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable .-Renter.