NEW CRISIS IN ENGLAND

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 127, 15 February 1918, Page 5

NEW CRISIS IN ENGLAND

RUMOURS OF HIGH RESIGNATIONS SIR WILLIAM ROBERTSON DECLINES TO STAND DOWN By Telegraph-Press Aesociation.-Copjriglit m , , • London, February 13. ihe Dally Chronicle' states that the political atmosphere is agitated by rumours of military resignations and of a possible Ministerial crisis. It is significant that Mr. Lloyd George has twice referred 'to a possible change in the Administration—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. ° REFUSES TO DESERT HIS POST. • (Rec. February 14, 8.30 p.m.) rm ,<n •, ir , , „ , „ , London, February 13. .1 lie Daily Mail states that tho Government lias endeavoured to induce Sir William Kobertson to resign his post as Chief of Staff. Sir William Robertson considers it his duty to remain at his post unloss removed, and tho Government is considering whether to insist on his resignation.—United Service. Several hostile amendments have been introduced in the House of Commons. These include one by Mr. Holt regretting that according to the' Versailles decisions tho Government's only immediate task is the prosecution of our military effort.—"Tho Times." AMENDMENT MOVED-MR. BALFOUR'S REPLY (Rec. February 14, 10.10 p.m.) London, February 13. In the House of Commons Mr. Holt moved an amendment regretting that by the decision of the Versailles War Council tho only immediate task of the Government was the prosecution of our military effort. Mr. Whyte deprecated any attempt to detach Austria from tho Central Alliance. Mr. Balfour, in his reply, disßentcd from any such doctrine, and added that if it were possible to break yp ihe enemx coalition, nobody would rej lice more than himself. Tho Versailles Council was faced by Count Hertling's and Count- Cm ruin's speeclius, and members saw in these no attempt to approach the Entente's standpoint. It was obvious that Count Czernin refused President Wilson's terms. The Kaiser's and Von Hertling's speeches proved that they were as far away now as they were three years ago from accepting President Wilson's ideals, which were common to the whole. The Entente's diplomatic weapon was therefore useless. , Mr, Asquitii Wants Information, Mr._Asquith, after paying the highest trifente to Sir Douglas Haig and Sir William Robertson, and declaring that the confidence of the nation and the Empire in them was in nowise shaken—(cheers)—asked tho Government to define the recent enlargement of the functions of the Inter-Allied War Council, and also whether any change had been made, or was contemplated, in the status, personnel, or functions of Sir Douglas Haig or Sir William Robertson. He concluded by emphasising the necessity for complete confidence in the systoni by which we were carrying on tho war, and for perfect Mrmony betweon tho Government and its servants. IMPRESSIONS OF THE CRISIS London, February 13. Parliamentary correspondents state that a new challenging note of criticism and a, bold disposition to assert the authority of the House was perceptible throughout the debate on the Add ress-in-Reply. The House was obviously disappointed that Mr. Lloyd George did not disclose tho nature of the enlarged functions of the Versailles Council. Mr. Asquith's indignant protest against the Premier's insinuation evoked a storm of applause, led by Mr. Lloyd George's Radical enemies, who are increasingly numerous. It was significant that the cheers seemed general. Mr. Lloyd George quite failed to repeat his parliamentary triumph of November. The subsequent debate emphasised the same note of criticism of the Government and Mr. Lloyd Ge.orge. Sovcral members aro asking why Colonel Repington is allowed to publish his criticisms in the "Morning Post."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. COLONEL REPINGTON AND THE "MORNING POST" TO BE PROSECUTED London, February 13. The Government is prosecuting Colonel Repington and tho "Morning Post" on account of an article discussing tho decisions of the Versailles Council.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. DEBATE IN THE LORDS REFERENCE TO VERSAILLES. London, February 13. In the course of the Lords' debate on tho Addross-in-Reply, Lord Curzon (Leader of the House of Lords) said that tho Imperial War Conference marked an important step in the constitutional development of the Empire. Geographical conditions prevented frequent meetings of the confercnce, but tho prosecuton of the war, tITo supply of men, and tlio question of peaco and post-war conditions, were matters m regard to which wo should gain by deliberating with fellow-subjects from overseas. He spoke appreciatively of tho type of Dominion and Indian soldiers scon daily in the streets. The success of the Palestine expedition, ho said, was regarded the world over as expiation of the affront which Christians had endured for centuries and as a sacred symbol of coming victory. (Cheers.) They all hoped that Palestine would never bo allowed to revert to tho Turks. The Arabs had assisted us to inflict heavy defeats on tho enemy. All must sympathise) with Rumania, Iter position was not due to tho failure of tho Western Allies, but to her geographical isolation since she was deserted by Russia. In France our position 5 was one of expectancy, but tho Allies had tho men to meet the onslaught and munitions equal to tho enemy's, while our morale had never been higher. (Cheers.) Tho Versailles Council, continued Lord Curzon, justified the most sanguino expectations. It was inevitable that the military representatives at Versailles would be invested with greater power as time went on. They had to deal efficiently and promptly with a situation which did not always permit of referenco to distant Governments. The suspicions levelled against tho Council were without foundation. Ho expected that, in regard to military dispositions, its executive functions would not be modified.