GENERAL MAURICE'S LETTER

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 199, 11 May 1918, Page 7

GENERAL MAURICE'S LETTER

STATEMENT IN HOUSE

OF COMMONS

MR. LLOYD GEORGE fROVES

HIS CASE

BIG MAJORITY VOTE OF

CONFIDENCE

HINT OF COMING CRISIS

IN THE WEST

(Roc. May 10, 11.30 p in.)

London, May 9.

In the House a mions, Mr. Asquith moved for a _ct Committee ot the House of Commons, instead of two Judges, t) inquire into the circumstances connected with Major-Genaral V. B. Maurice's letter to the Press. _Mr. Asquith, on rising, disclaimed any intention of embarrassing the Government. There had been much misconception regarding his motion for tho Select Committee, lie was strongly of opinion that it was not Parliament's business in war-time to be constantly inquiring into the conduct of successive phases of t':e war, .and still less to be occupying its time in investigating the truth or falsehood of statements by ill-informed persons. His motion had been absurdly described as a vote of censure. He had co such intention.'

Mr. Asquith was warmly-applauded on remarking that since he left office he had done his utmost to assist the Government without withholding legifi'.nato and helpful criticism. Uncharitable people had suspected him of wanting to return to power. If he waited the House to censure tho Government ho would so directly and unequivocally. If the Government had a good case they . would emerge with enhanced authority. When he gave notice of the motion hfl honestly thought that the Government would accept it. Proceediug to deal with General Maurice's -letter, Mr. Asquith said that it was a unique incident in the history of the war. General Maurice was a distinguished soldier, lie had explicitly impugned tho accuracy ot Ministers statements, though awtre that his actiou was a serious brotch of the regulations, jeopardising his future. He (Mr. Asquith) j denied the allegations that he or his colleagues were privy to the publication of I the letter. Tho Government on Tuesday admitted that an inquiry ought to be made,.but it must be, secret. Did the Gov-, eminent still beliovo that secret documents could not bo disclosed to.a Select /Committee of the House of Commons? Ho assumed that the Government desired the inquiry. The only question was: What kind? .He still considered that*two Judges would be an impotent tribunal unless specially empowered by statute. ■V small Parliamentary Committee of live would bo proper, more authoritative, and would command the .country s respect. What was tho alterna ;ive ? Interjections: "Get on with the war! (Cheers.) „ ' ~ Mr Asquith replied: "Misconceptions must' be cleared first. An,,- Ministerial statement will be merely ex parte. Mr; Bonav Law remarked that tnoy could not find an unprejudiced Select Committee. ~ . Mr. Asquith, amid loud cheers, deprecated this aspersion of tho House s tradii tions, and concluded by saying: I leave it there." Prime Minister's Reply.

Mr. Lloyd George followed. He declared that the demand for a Select Committee •was' without parallel. Never before hail tho House been asked to inquire into the truth or falsity of Ministers; ' statements. General Maurice luul access to all tliooiticial information while in tiio AYar Orncc, and was the authority in figures. Genera Maurice also" had access to Ministers, and attended Cabinet the day utter ho (Jlr. Lloyd George) had delivered his .speech. "Ho did not cull attention to the inaccuracy of any -statement, though-. He was daily in contact with inc. If the importance of the iigurcs justiueil General Maurice in breaking tho King s Regulations, that officer's duty was to inform"Cabinet at the time. He (Mr. Lloyd George) would givs tho sources of his information, and ask tho House to give judgment to-day. The Government was' anxious to unbmit Die matter to an impartial tribunal. Secrecy was essential because the interests of a. certain Ally were involved. A judicial tribunal was preferable, becauso- passions had been aroused". It was evident from tho anti-Government Press. that no decision of anv tribunal would bn accepted. J.he Government luul decided to "give Hie facts and let tho imblic judge: Ihe official records confirmed his statement that tho fighting-strength of the British Army in January, Klb, exceeded that in .Tanuarv, 1917. His figures had been given 'him by General Maurice's Department, and initialled by General Maurice's deputy. The figures regarding the Allies' superiority in the West front over the enemy came from General Maurice.-. ; The statements regarding Hie British-strength wero submitted to General Maurice before he (the speaker) made them, and General Man-" rice informed the Cabinet Secretary that he l\a'd no remarks to make regarding them.

The Extension of the Line, - ; The. extension of General Cough's frout;'..'continued., the speaker, was not discussed at the Versailles Council, but what was discussed was a demand for a further extension. The former extenision to-which' General Maurico •alluded ! was carried out before the Council met. - Generals lfaig and l'etain had agreed on.-Unit. ■ A'ot a yard of front was ! taken over as the result of the Versailles Conference. "The real point is: Was-General .dough's , front extended against. Sir William Robertson's and .Sir Douglas -Uaig's objections?" Thero was no .word . truth in tho allegation. Neither' Sir Douglas llaig nor Cabinet .desired it, but the pressure from France was enormous. He did not siißßJst that the French acted unfairly. There had been, some' ferment in France regarding the relative lengths of the French and ,-British lines, and Sir- William Robertson' drew, up o. minute- staling that aiv ex- ! .tension ought yo be accepted, in principle, but- that the Commander-in-Chief should, select the elate Cabinet adopted the minute. M. -Clemtncenu later suggested' that the Versailles Council should examine tho question, and Cabinet only suggested that the General Staff should prepare- a'case for'-consideration by the Council at.-Versailles The military representatives! suggested a .compromise for discussion. Sir Douglas Hnig and General Pi tain agreed f.n the extension. At one time Sir -Douglas Haig believed that the extension had been decided iipc-ii before he hail Agreed, but the matter was socn explained. That was the sole basis tor the liinm- rumours which hod been afloat. Cabinet fully anproved of Sir Douirla? Haig's decision to extend t he line. Mr. Lloyd George proceeded to censure G°nei'al Mouriee's breach of discipline. He had .that day received .protests from Australian soldiers against General Maurice's evil example. These controversies were distracting and para-, lysing. "The Germans are now silently preparing for +ho hipgerit blow of the war. Their course of action is shrouded in mvstery. Our fate during the next few weeks will'he in tho balance." lie appealed tc the Hor.se to ':-"A an example to the country in preventing a' united front to the enemy. "If;" concluded tho 'Prime' Minister, "the motion were carried, Mr. Asiiuith would again bo • responsible for conducting the war." Mr. Asouith's motion was defeated by 208 lo lflfi. The Unionist War Committee previously discussed the Maurice alrnir, and dccieleil to support tho Government in any division. U was understood that tho Liberal War Committee v;evild adopt the snmo course, while tho Labour Party decided to await the trend '.if 'events revealed by tho.debate.—Jus.-N.is. Cable Assn. press andltolic opinion ' ■)' London, May- 0. Commenting on the fact that both Mr. Lloyd Goorga's statements ane! General Maurice's contradiction are bascel on figures supplied from the saino source, with which General Maurico was hini<'

self connected, tlio ''Daily ChronicW* says "Tlio'expl'iiialion may be that Genu, ral Maurice was tanking only of the bayonet streiigHf, .while Miy Lloyd George included the r.rtfllcry dii'd- the flying corns. Cerain'.y th«o is not a shadow «f iloubt that Sir. Lloyd (Rwge's state* incut on April 0 was' absolutely correct. Tne British Army tliis year was mora powerful than at the beginning ofTJI7." Tlio "Daily Express" slates that the atmosphere of Westminster has' changed since Tuesday. Premature judgrhents navo been .modified, and many Liberals have been impressed by Lord Haldane's appeal in the House ot Lords that the war situation ;. r as so tritieal that dangeroiis results would follow if unncces. Eary discussions were raised aud tho Gov. eminent embarrassed.

Many members of the House of Com. mons have been impressed by the resolu. lion telegraphed to Mr. Lloyd George from a. puVuc meeting of Woolwich Arsenal workers saying "The Germans want you to go, tlu pacifists want you to go, but we. the workers, don't want you to go. Your enemies are our enemies. Damn tho:n all! ,God Save England!"— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

WHAT THEY SAT IN FBANCE.

London, May 9.

The "Echo do Paris" states that the ; ; supporters of Sir William Robertson re. ;'; fuse to forgive Mr. Lloyd George for •, creating the unity of command, and are' r' seeking by every means to overthrow him. Public opinion in Britain will judge such an intrigue severely. "La Liberie", says that if a general . had done such a thing in France there would have been a veritable scandal. It ; was not for an officer to place his duty as a citizen before his duty as a sol. : dier."—Aus.-N.Z.' Cable Assn. COMMENT IN AMERICA. New York, May 9, . The New York newspapers comment at l< length on tlio British political crisis. 1' .-j The "New' YorkAVorld" says'that no bt Government can successfully carry on ];J the war if it is always under fire. Mr. ; ' Lloyd George should either receive an- • ? mistakable evidence of public support arid confidence or leave office. The "New York Times" remarks: Mr. Llt'.vd George's administrative achieve. , mciits and his fruitful energy cannot be 'deiiied. If anybody can form a more vigorous Government, let us have "ami. r~ But is there such a man? ( The "New York Tribune" says there ) ;ip]iears to be an inextricable tangle, ~' which may result in the leadership going \ to Mr Asquith or Lord Milner. "Thero -/v. is no doubt that Mr. Lloyd George has not aihieved the success he expected, and it (-ocms that his position is almost un-tew.tle.'-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. • (Rec. May 11, 1 a.m.) New York, May 10. .The "New York Times," commenting on the defeat of Mr. Asquith's motion, savs: "Thero is a strong feeling'of relief that a change of.. Government in, Etgland • has fen .averted., The overthrow of Mr. Lloyd George at this time would have caused,..dismay here. All England's energies are needed for the h'lai.ders battle." The "New York Wo"'d ' says: "Although . Mr. Lloyd George's'Government'has received a vote ..-j of. confidence, the atmosphere' is not ■■■■■'" Cleared. The grave issue is the hostility esistinsr between the Government and High Command. of-. the Army."—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.' '