Great Britain

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 23, 3 January 1916, Page 5

Great Britain

COMPULSION AND POLITICS.

United Runes association. London, January I

Sir John Simon was absent trom both meetings of Cabinet. Mr R. McKenna and Air Runeiman deeided that they had no reason for resigning, out Sir John Simon is reported to he eonsidering his position, if he has not actually tendered his resignation.

Cabinet adopted the policy regarding compulsion, which is meeting with general approval. Mr Asquith will have the support of a United Cabinet in the event of Sir John Simon’s withdrawal.

Official Labor circles are strongly hostile. In the event of the Labor Congress opposing the Government’s decision. Mr Henderson will resign his position as President of Education and his seat in the Cabinet. The Bill will become law before the end of January unless there is unexpected opposition. Great interest attaches to the meeting of Cabinet, which met twice on Friday. The evening newspapers understand that the Bill will compel all unmarried men under forty years of ago to join the army. , ... , Probably Lord Kitchener will he invited to attend the Labor Conference on Thursday and explain the necessity for compulsion in the case of unmarried men. . . . Cabinet no longer fears a crisis involving general resignations, though i is agreed that Sir John Simon has-re-signed. It is understood Mr McKenna and Mr Runeiman made fresh proposals yesterday. As a condition of their acceptance of compulsion they proposed to lower the limit which should be placed on the contemplated expansion of the army. After hearing Messrs McKenna’s and Runeiman s arguments on the statistics, Cabinet decided to reconsider the matter on Tuesday morning. , Some members desired the .Bill t apply to married men who had not attested. as well as to the 600,000 unmarried men, hut this was regarded as going beyond Mr Asquith’s pledge so Cabinet preferred to confine the BM to tlie pledge. Mr Henderson is holding aloof from the discussions in Cabinet. Ho c ” n ', ciders it essential- to redeem Mr Asquith’s (pledge, hut regards himself as bound joy tlie vote of a special CoiY gross of J^abor... , ... • eiMemlers of the Comtyowfc do Hot de ; dixelto general election or break .withitlhV'Coalition .Government 'h fear th.l rank sutd se.6f. the Lahonteii will not agree, wifli .thern.^ latest reports ar£’ favor- ... ~,j ABLE. (ReoeiWd 's.W' Un.) - 1 London. January 2. Sir John Simon’s resignation .has not been yet accepted. It is generally believed that in the decision t)ie final majority v. ill he in favour iof the Government’s Bill > wll * ch restricts compulsion to the- .duration .of,the war, and comprises four-fifths of. the Liberal.members of.the .of ;€onnn<?ns, ajl ,;tbe Conservatives, and;mo|it; of -the, Labour Party. Messrs i and Brace will support Mr Henderson.

is in<uv; expected that the Labour Conference: on Thursday will support the -Bill.

The public generally approve. Women particularly are incensed against the shirkers, many having lost their husbands, brothers, dr sons id the war, and they resent the well-paid unmarrieds avoiding service. ,

Groups six, seven, eight and nine of the Derbyists from twenty-three to twenty-six years, will shortly be called

IMPERIAL COUNCIL OF COMMERCE. CONFERENCE IN JUNE NEXT,

(Received 8.55 a.m.) London, January 2. The executive committee of the Imperial Council of Commerce, since the postponement of the Congress in Canada to 1917, has matured plans for a conference in London on June sth, 191 G, as cabled on October 21. The executive expects the representatives to be in attendance and delegates from the Oversea Dominions and dependencies. A circular to members of the Council emphasises the desirability of the adoption of a common policy, preparing the way in some extent for further action in connection with, tlie Congress in 1917. The provisional programme includes the following subjects: Preference within the Empire, preferential relations with the Allies, measures against enemy countries in connection with manufactures and shipping, also against the dumping if enemy goods within the Empire, an amendment of the nationalisation laws, compulsory registration of aliens, the question of licenses to trade and other regulations affecting foreign firms, prohibition of contracts with aliens which might lie calculated to restrain Imperial trade proposed uniformity m the patents, designs and trade marks law. Imperial preference in taxation, the .question of the double income tax, and limitation of membership of the Chambers of Commerce to British born subjects. All members ot the Council are invited to the conference together with certain special delegates from the Overseas and the United Kingdom.

DAY ill- INTERCESSION

(Received 9.40 a.m.) London, January 2

The Dnv of Intercession was obsorvr,l throughout the country. Muffled p «a!s wore tolled at many churches at the Archbishop’s request, and tins was also observed at the chapels. Heavy rain affected the attendance. The pulpit references to the war were universal.