IN THE COMMONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 November 1917, Page 1

IN THE COMMONS.

ALLIED WAR COUNCIL TAUSTRALIAN it N.Z. CARLE ASSOCIATION’] London, Nov 14.

In the House of Commons, Mr Asquith asked an important question regarding the work of the Inter-Ailied War Council. He asked what functions it was proposed that the Council is to be invested with, particularly ns to its militarv staff. He wanted to know (1) whether the proposed Council should have the power to interfere and override the opinion of the General Staff at Home and the Commander-in-Chief in the field on the matter of strategy ; (2) whether the Military Staff of the Council should have its own Intelligence and Operations Departments ; (3) whether the ultimate decision regarding the distribution and movement of the armies rests with the Council or with the Governments represented thereon; (4) whether the Government would give the House an opportunity to discuss the proposed arrangements and also Mr Lloyd George’s statements at Paris in connection therewith. Mr Llovd George, in reply, read the terms of the France-Italy-.British agreement. This created an Allied Supreme War Council, composed of the Prime Minister and a member of the Government of each great Power, whose armies are fighting on the Western Front. Any extension of the Council’s scope to other fronts is reserved for discussion with the great Powers concerned. 'The Council’s mission is to watch the general conduct of the war, and to prepare recommendations for the Governments’ decision. It is to keep itself informed of the execution of these recommendations, and to report thereon to the respective Governments. The General Staffs and military commands of eacli Power remain responsible to their respective Governments. General war plans, drawn up by competent military authorities, are to be submitted to the Supreme War Council, which, under the high authority of the Governments, ensures their concordance and submits any necessary changes. Each Power delegates to the Supreme War Council one permanent military representative, whose exclusive function is technically to advise the Council. The military representatives will, receive from the Government and competent military authorities of their country all proposals, information, and documents relating to the conduct of the war. The military representative will watch the daily situation, the forces, and the means of every sort whereon the Allied and enemy armies repose. The War Council will meet normally at Versailles at least once monthly. It might meet at other agreed places according to circumstances. The permanent military representatives and their staffs have been already established at Versailles.

Mr Lloyd (seorge said that from the terms of the foregoing it was clear that the Council had no executive power, and that the final decisions in the matter of strategy, and of the distribution and movement of the various armies in the field would rest, with the Allied Governments. Therefore there would be no Operations Department attached to the Council. The Allies’ object had been to establish a central body who should continuously survey the fields of operations as a whole in the light of information derived from all the fronts, all the Governments and their staffs, and the co-ordinated plans prepared by the different General Staffs, and, if necessary, making their own proposals for the better conduct of the war.

The Government, the Prime Minister added, proposed to set aside the 19th inst., for the discussion of the subject and also ,of his Baris speech.