Great Britain

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 56, 4 November 1915, Page 5

Great Britain

DISCUSSION IN THE LORDS. r United Press Association, London. October 20. In the House of Lords, Lord Loreburn asked whether tlie Government was determined to despatch troops to Salonika with the approval of the highest naval and military advisers, and whether the Government would o-ivo assurance that full provision had been made for communications to the forces and supplies of men and material to the satisfaction of the naval and military advisers. He said he would not complain if the Government felt that there should he some delay in answering questions, but the reasons were for the Government to give. They had not deprecated discussion in order to shield themselves from criticisms. but he believed they over-rated the consequences in a democratic country if' Parliamentary discussion were stifled and discouraged, for discussion merely transferred Parliament to the newspapers. No one expected the Government to divulge all the strategical plans, but they might make a general statement. We had witnessed the Dardanelles affair, and did not know whether it was commenced with or without the advice of the naval and military authorities. Was the Salonika adventure to l>e a repetition ol the Dardanelles? He did not question the fact that the Government was genuinely anxious that the Balkans expedition should be successful, but the country would like ah assurance that the enterprise had been carefully thought out beforehand. The greatest dangers any country coni suffer from were unpreparedness and indecision.

Lord Cromer paid he felt certain that the centre of gravity of the war would be transferred for the time being from the West to the East, and lie asked the Government to give a general indication as to how they intendocl to moot the situation. Lord Cromer said a good deal of friction existed which could have been avoided if the Government had not thrown so impenetrable a veil over their opinions and plans of action. Lord Kitchener then had been singularly parsimonious in his utterances in the House of Lords. His, statements had never contained much more than could be read in the daily papers. The country wanted something to show that the Government had a real grasp of the situation.

Lord Cromer concluded by saying that he dissociated himself from any attempt to upset the Government, but it was quite impossible for a Cabinet of twenty-two members to conduct the war efficaciously. A small strong executive body was required, chosen without reference to party, from men icpresenting the best talent of the country in the direction of official, political, naval, and military persons versed in Eastern affairs. Lord Cromer’s speech deeply impressed the House. LORD LANSDOWNE IN REPLY.

Lord Latisdowne, in replying, admitted that personally he was strongly of opinion that the efficiency of a Cabinet was apt to vary inversely to its numerical strength. Turning to the Salonika expedition, he could quite understand that, in view of our commitments to France in Gallipoli and Egypt, it might seem distasteful to tlie House of Lords that the situation had been complicated by entering new entanglements in a new theatre of war. Serbia had made a direct appeal to the British Government for help, and we had sent such troops as were available. It was a small force, liecause only a small force could bo collected in time. The French had despatched a force, which was nou apparently engaged with the Bulgarians. These steps had to be taken with great promptitude, because promptitude was necessary at the moment, and they were taken after full and deliberate consultation with the Cabinet’s military and naval advisers. We regarded thirteen thousand Britishers as a precursor of a larger force. Events were moving very rapidly in the Balkans, and two recent developments had profoundly' affected the military and political situation. The first was the attitude of the Greek Government; the second was the progress of the campaign in Northern Serbia, which rendered it highly improbable that the Serbians could withstand the Austro-German attacks for any groat longth of time*, seeing that Serbia had been stabbed in the back by Bulgaria. The French and British Governments realised that when further reinforcements reached the Eastern Mediterranean it would be necessary to take careful stock oi the position. General Monro, who was due tef arrive to-day, had been instructed to report as soon as possible on all aspects of the case. Lord Lansdowne combatted the impression that civilian politicians had a habit of devising great strategical plans and combinations, and imposing these on the Government as from professional advisers. Not in any Government' wherewith ho had been connected had it been possible for amateur strategists to impose such plans. Lord Kitchener was present at every Cabinet meeting, and was paity to all its decisions. It was almost grotesque to suppose that Lord Kitchener would

allow himelf to be deflected from his course by pressure from his civilian colleagues. There were mixed problems which had to be considered, not from merely a naval and military point of view, but from broad moral and political grounds. He wished to enforce that. | Whatever opportunities were given the naval and military advisers, the ultimate responsibility rested on the Government. No Government could be allowed to shelter itself behind the advice of its experts. In view of the pressure exerted on the various trouts against Germany it was natural that the Central Powers now look in a new direction to seek a satisfactory decision. The choice fell as it was obviously likely to fall—to push through Bulgaria, threatening our Gallipoli forces, and perhaps Egypt, to say nothing of tho vaster aspirations which perhaps ay behind. GREECE’S OBLIGATIONS.

Lord Lansdowne paid a tribute to Serbia’s wonderful gallantry in struggling against a third invasion. Greece was bound to Serbia by geographical propinquities, common interests and treaty obligations. Only through [Greek territory could help possibly 'reach the Serbians, and the goodwill lof Greece was obviously of the first importance. It was at M. Veni/.elos’ instance that they undertook to provide a force to enable Greece to fulfil her treaty obligations. We had taken prompt steps to relieve Serbia. Lord Lansdowne assured the House that the Government was not likely to be led to precipitate action. Lord St. Davids said that it the Government had had their eyes open in the early stages of the war they must have known they could have secured communication with Serbia through Durazzo. Lord Middleton said the main cause of the want of confidence in the Government lay in the impossibility of conducting the war under the -present system. Cabinet had a meeting of the Defence Committee one day, the War Council on the following day, and the Dardanelles Committee on the next day, which implied a want of continuity. Lord Curzon said that there was a single committee directing its attention to the prosecution of the war. It was firstly called the Dardanelles Committee, but later it assumed the general control of the whole war. Ihe question of a smaller Cabinet was under Mr Asquith’s consideration, and the Government were also considering a railway from Durazzo towards Serbia, Lord Middleton urged that a small committee of the Cabinet be appointed to deal with the war, and nothing but the war. Lord Curzon said that the committee of the Cabinet was essentially a committee for war purposes, but the responsibilities of its decisions rested upon the whole Cabinet. Lord Loreburn, in concluding the debate, said the Government had not answered his question. He wanted the troops in the field to be assured that the Government was utilising the highest military advice in regard tc an"expedition in which they were risking their lives. The House adjourned till Thursday.

THE WAR IN PARLIAMENT. Loudon, October 20. Mr LI oyd George, in the House of Commons, said that Air Asquith would shortly make a full statement as to the progress of the war. ANOTHER SPY SHOT. (Received 10.15 a.m.) London, October 27. Another spy has been shot. AN ASHMEAD BARTLET TOUR. (Received 10.15 a.m.) London, October 27. Mr Ashraead Bartlet, the well-known war correspondent, is arranging a lecturing tour of America, Australia, and New Zealand. MISCELLANEOUS. London, October 27. The comments of Australasian newspapers, condemning political warfare in England as calculated to injure Imeprial solidarity, wenbrought to the notice of Lord Berov, as head of the recruiting scheme. He deprecates the political controversy, and in response to a request has issued the following message to Australia and New Zealand;—“s he campaign now being conducted ?n Hie United Kingdom to obtain by voluntary means recruits sufficient to bring the war to a successful and victorious conclusion, however long it lasts, is not being carried on by any one party. All political parties, creeds and classes are joining in the wore with absolute unanimity. - If success is obtained. as I hope and believe ’t 111.13 he, it will he due to no one secfr.n of the public, hut to the fact the,: the Kingdom is absolutely united in its determination to leave no stone unturned to secure a victory for Hie present generation, and an enduring peace for generations to come. There are no dissentients in our ranks.”

MR ASQUITH QXJ !TE RECOVERED REPARATION FOR MISS CAVELL'S MURDER. (Received i 2.50 p.m.) Loudon, October 27. Air Novel George, who is lending the 'House, announced that -Mr Asquith had quite recovered.—Cheers. ,» He 'would make a statement concerning the war on Tuesday, and give an opportunity for discussion il desired. Ju reply to a. question regarding reparation for Miss Cavell’s execution. Lord Robert Cecil said that Mr Asquith’s assurances on May 5, applied with two-fold force to this savage murder of a noble woman under legal forms. It would not serve a useful purpose to declare that the GovernorGeneral of Brussels was personally responsible, at it was not yet sure who was the chief offender.