Great Britain

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 14, 19 April 1916, Page 5

Great Britain

A POLITICAL CRISIS. LLOYD GEORGE INSISTS Ol\l COMPULSION. United Press Association. London, April lb. The Cabinet crisis is at a critical stage, and the members have nor arrived at a decision satisfactory u> Mr Lloyd George, who continues lo demand compulsion of married men. MR BONAR LAW’S DILEMMA. Mr Uonar Law is in a most difficult position. He favors compulsory seivice, yet attaches great importance to the preservation of the coalition. He is now forced to choose between the repudiation of Lord Lansdowne and Mr Chamberlain and the meeting which reproached Sir Edward Carson, and the Unionist War Committee. Mr Lloyd George estimates that the compulsion of married men will add 400,000 to the army, and that that is the only method of complying with the Army Council’s requirements. | It is noteworthy that the Manchester Guardian opposes compulsion, but invites some of the most live mind.» 'of the Government to pass into opposition, and thus recreate responsible 1 Parliamentary criticism. LORD SYDENHAM’S VIEWS. Lord Sydenham, commenting on the current situation,- says that earnest thinkers in all parts of the Empire have long believed that British people could not rise to the full height of their mission in the world, and. develop their unrivalled resources or safeguard their liberties against aggression, without closer union of purpose and effort. Much has been done to secure joint counsels and provide an interchange of information in regard to matters of Imperial defence; 'but the advisory bodies can rarely succeed in attaining great objects, and conferences may fail where executive action is imperatively required. The vision of a federal Empire has been blurred and indistinct in the past, but it now stands forth in clear outline, as the result of the startling revelations which the war has forced upon us. We, now understand that all we cherish, is at stake and has been in grave peril. We realise as never before, that far closer Imperial co-operation is essential, not only for national safety, but for the solution of vital economic problems. We shall have to reconstruct the shaken fabric of our prosperity by turning the whole resources ol the Empire to account for the benefit of its citizens of all classes. Is this possible without organic union? Will notour shared sacrifices of gallant lives and treasure, lavishly poured out, lie in vain if we do not now create an Empire in the Government of wlimb all members can take part? Can so supreme an opportunity ever recur again? On the answer of these questions the future of the British people must depend.

ARMY COUNCIL REQUIREMENTS.

London, April IS,

' The Ximes says that ilj is .impossibles to conceal the fact that the affairs of the Cabinet have reached a crisis. On the very njorning of Mr Asquith’s statement the Government had not agreed upon a policy, and the Cabinet was of unusually short duration, but anxious, though abortive, negotiations, were continued till the evening, and then ended in a deadlock. Meanwhile the Lobby was humming with rumours of resignations, when it aas clear that the Army Council’s attitude had made important converts. Mr Lloyd George and Lord Kitchener being mentioned. PRESS COMMENT. The Daily Telegraph says that an acute political crisis would throw the country into confusion and spread dismay among the Allies. A sufficient answer to compulsionists is that Lord Kitchener remains at the War Office after Cabinet had rejected general compulsion, and Lnionist leaders,had seen the full facts and figures and decided that there are limits to the raising of soldiers beyond which Britain cannot go safely.

The Daily Chronicle says that there is a possibility that some Ministers will resign to-day. Though the Unionist members of the Cabinet conferred before the meeting, Cabinet was unable to adjust the differences. The majority does not believe that a fresh measure of compulsion is yet necessary. but Mr Lloyd George holds this view firmly, and threatens to resign if Cabinet finally decides against compulsion. Alternatively Mr Henderson will resign if it is decided that compulsion is necessary. Mr Lloyd George’s attitude is embarrassing to i Unionist members of the Cabinet, as Lord Lansdowne and Mr Chamber-

lain, who were members of the subcommittee along with Mr Asquith and Mr McKenna, decided that it was unnecessary to enlist unattested married men. Mr Lloyd George, in view of the Array Council’s fiat, insisted on the renort being referred back for fresh consultation with Lord Kitchener and General Sir W. P. Robertson, and

has thus brought the compulsion qu«Bjtion to a sharp issue. I The Daily Mail says: Thera araao Jre agnations at the moment of going to press, but it is clear that the Cabi- - I net is very unsettled. -Victory Sow ! depends upon the adoption of cfiinpu! lon. Most Cabinet members iiiare ! unwilling or unable to face the fa£ts. Mr Asquith should face the problem. | j from the standpoint of the soldiers and seamen, who alone know how many men are wanted to heat the Germans. Military necessity-is giving •; „a\ to a fetish of unity, which meins * . * :« compromise*. "4 -S MR LLOYD GEORGE’S THREAT- j ENED RESIGNATION. 5 ! . ' The political crisis developed late yesterday evening, when it was £nown ii that Mr Lloyd George was in the opinion of a small minority of the 1 - Cabinet that tfie Army Council’s Be* mauds cannot be met by any scheme short of general compulsion, and v|is prepared to press thi* opinion to the extent of resignation, j Rumours of Mr Lloyd George’s threatened resignation have been ‘so frequent that many Commoners are • doubtful about it, and point out that Lord Kitchener apparently agreed with the majority. The Cabinet crisis .became acute when it appeared that .Lord Kitchener stated that the whole of the Army Council and all tbe General Staff had signed a memorandumiof the army's-:.requirements. j - OTHER OPINIONS. - -| -W Lord Curzon agrees with Mr Lloyd George for the necessity of meeting the unanimous demands of the military •authorities. Messrs Asquith, McKenna, Runciman, and possibly Mr Balfour, will op- ! pose compulsion, | The Daily Mail says -that it is be-, j ltevecl that General Sir W. P. Robert-' | son will resign if the Army Council’s ! demands are not met. i MR BONAR LAW’S POSITION. | Mr Bonar Law is inclined’to waver, and it is understood’that,he is now considering the position of the Coalition Government. -T ' The Whips were active last night, and apparently Mr Asquith is preparing for important action in the Commons. Possibly his statement may be postponed. The King gave an audience to Mr Asquith .this evening. ~„-- T ,■ . . . . , Mr Bonar Law’s opinion largely depends on the attitude of the Unionist Party.

PRESS COMMENT. London, April 17. The Daily Chronicle says that Mr Lloyd George doe. not waver in' his conviction that g-ueral compulsion is necessary. . ' A rumor was current oh Sunday ■ evening that Mr Lloyd Georg© may resign if he disapproves of to-day’s Cabinet’s decision. In any event, the Cabinet meeting may be of momentous consequences. , V> .tty. 1.. ■■ ■ > ■!«, COUNCIL FIRM FOR COMPULSIPN OF MARRIED. MEN. I London, April The Army Council continues to firmly demand compulsion of married men, despite the fact that Mr .Asquith and the sub-committee of the Cabinet maintain that the committee’s recommendations are sufficient. APPOINTMENT OF SPECIAL COM* MITTEE. —: jASQUITH’S STATEMENT ON WEDNESDAY. (Received 8.55 a.m.) London, April 18. Mr Asquith is president of the Special Committee appointed to make a final effort to solve the recruiting problem. The committee includes Lord Kitchener , Mr Lloyd George, Lord Crewe, General Sir W. , P. Robertson, Sir Walter Long, and Mr Henderson, Mr Asquith, in the Commons, stated that he would postpone his statement till Wednesday. ANZAC DAY. THE PROGRAMME IN LONDON. (Received 8.20 a.m.) ' London, April 18. The programme for Anzac Day is as follows: Australians will arrive at Waterloo station, and march to Aldwych. * Seven hundred New Zealanders will arrive at Fenchurch street and .join the forces at Aldwych. Headed by bands they will proceed to the Abbey via the Strand and Whitehall. The applications outnumber the seats ‘available tenfold. Special seats near j the King and Queen will be reserved for a party of blind soldiers, and accommodation will be reserved for nurses in addition to the wounded. The New Zealanders will return to camp, and the Australians will march past from Pall Mall to the Cecil Hotel, and thence march to His Majesty’s Theatre. THE GALLIPOLI LANDING. London, April 17. An Anzac non-com., writing to the Times: says: The ever-generous Bri- ■ t:sh public gives the chief measure of praise for the Gallipoli landing to the Colonial and their Allied comrades, but every Anzac was filled with high admiration at the gallantry which was shown by their hrethren-in-arms. Survivors of the 29th Division visiting • Australia and New Zealand would-re-ceive the honour they richly deserved. -