British Cabinet

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 14, 11 December 1916, Page 5

British Cabinet

THE NEW TEAM. NEWSPAPER PREDICTIONS. Press Association—Copyright, Austra. lian and N.Z. Cable Association London, Decenner 9. Newspapers predict the following Cabinet appointments;— Prime .Minister—Mr Lloyd George. Chancellor of the Exchequer—Mr Bonar Law (with Mr S. S. Lever us Financial Secretary to relieve Mr Bonar Law of the chief part of Ins departmental work). War Office—-Lord Derby. India Office Mr Austen Chamberlain. Admiralty—Sir Edward Carson. Colonial Office-*--Mr W. 11. bong. Board of Trade- Mr Albert Stanley. Munitions— Dr, C. Addison. bond Controller— Lord De.vGnport Foreign Office—Mr A. J. Baliour. Without portfolio—Lord Metier, who will be a member of the War Council. A Renter message report's that Mr Asquith, states Mr A. J. Balfour will bo the Foreign Secretary, and that Lord Robert Cecil will remain Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs. Viscount Grey, speaking at the Reform Club meeting, said Mr Balfour would be tlie next Foreign Secretary, Lord Robert Cecil retaining his position as a Minister. He paid a high tribute to Lord Robert Cecil’s able, single-handed, and public-spirited devotion to duty, and added: “If Mr Balfoui; becomes Foreign Minister, I feel that the whole work of our relations with the Allies and neutrals will ho in able and sympathetic hands.”

Two hundred Liberal members of the House of Lords and House of Commons met at the Reform Club. Crowds witnessed their arrival and ovationed Mr Asquith, a few hysterical suffragettes howling “Traitor!” One woman also greeted Lord Haldane with cries of “Kaiser Haldane.” They also created a considerable disturbance over Viscount Grey, whom the police escorted. ' It is expected that Mr Lloyd George will complete his Cabinet to-night. Mr Asquith makes a statement in the House of Commons on Tuesday. One of the first matters will he pressure on the Government for the promised air service discussion. It is unofficially announced that Sh R. B. Finlay, the Lord] Chancellor, and Mr Asquith have received a letter from the King expressing his grateful appreciation of their long and distinguished services to the State.

THE RECENT NEGOTIATIONS.

MR ASQUITH’S POSITION.

London, December 8

An official report amplifies the negotiations that took place between >Mr Asquith and Mr Lloyd George. It states that on Sunday Mr Lloyd George tried to accommodate the views on which they differed on the two points: first, in relation to the Prime Minister being on the War Committee; and secondly, the War Committee’s personnel. Mr Lloyd Georgy wanted to exclude some and include others, and there was a strong, sharp difference of opinion between them relating to these matters. Various suggestions were made with the object of endeavoring ;o solve the first question, lint iheiv was no attempt to solve the second, frailly, she following arrangeiut-n' w-m suggested : The Prime d blister to have supreme effective control of tin- war

policy, the war committee’s agenda to he submitted to him and the chairman to report to him daily; the Prime Minister to be able to direct the v\ ar Jommittee to consider particular topics and proposals, and all its coniusious to be subject to his approval or veto. The Prime Minister to atuend the meetings at own discretion. No agreement with Mr Lloyd George was reached on Sunday, the matter wing left over for further consideration. Mr Asquith undertook to give Mr Lloyd George a written communication on Monday, but the newspapers jn Monday morning published a proposal to exclude Mr Asquith from the Committee. Mr Lloyd George assured Mr Asquith that fit- had no responsibility in connection with the publication, and this assurance was accepted; but the fact remained that ohe thing had become known, and Mr Asquith wrote immediately to Mr Lloyd George that unless the impression was corrected he (Mr Asquith) would be relegated to the position ot an irresponsible spectator ol the* w:u. if lie could not go on the committee and Mr Lloyd George accepted the suggested arrangement.

Mr Asquith then consulted his colleagues, ami informed Mi' Lloyd George that the War Committee could not possibly he workable and ellective unless the Prime Minister was its chairman. Mr Lloyd George himself disagreed with this, and stated that it the Committee was reconstructed it must he on a smaller basis. Mr Asjuith considered that he himself must .'boose the members.

Viscount Grey, in paying a tribute to Mr Lloyd George’s work, stated that his relations with Air Lloyci George were such that he did not believe it possible these attacks could have been made by those confessedly working for him. Speaking at a Liberal meeting, Mr Asquith said there had been a carefully engineered campaign against Viscount Grey and himself, but he acquitted any member ol the Government of complicity therein. Lie received Mr Lloyd George’s proposal for a smaller War Council on December I mid replied the same day stating

that the Premier must preside over such a body. Mr Lloyd George disagreed, and on December ff the Unionist Ministers intimated that unless Mr Asquith resigned they would resign. Mr Asquith appealed to Mr Honor Law to remain, and wrote to Mr Lloyd George on December -i

stating he was not prepared to remain in the Cabinet as a spectator. He outlined certain proposals that Mr Lloyd George accepted, subject to the character and personnel of the Mar Council. Mr Asquith added that lie consulted his friends, who lelt that the. differences regarding the Premier presiding over the AA’ar Council and as to the personnel of the - Council Were irreconcilable, so he resigned. He declined to join the new Government, because he felt lie would be :< source of weakness, as attacks on him would continue, and he felt it would bo better if lie gave independent support outside the Cabinet. In a masterly peroration lie advised thorn all to avoid recriminations. Per--anally, he gave each and all credit for the best motives. “Above all,” lie said, “do all you can to facilitate the task which has fallen into other hands.”

LORD NORTHGUFFE’S CRITICISM i I Lord North cl iff e writes: “Mr Lloyd George is now head of the British. Canadian, Australian, New Zealand, juncl South African war efforts, whereupon the winning of the war primarily devolves. Distance and circum- | stances alone prevented the inclusion in the Cabinet of representatives of | the Dominions, because the war quintuples the value of time. Mr [Lloyd George has been compelled to choose his colleagues with lightning rapidity. He is just a little too kindhearted. therefore he has cumbered his Government with fossils and j“has-beens.” I am convinced that ■Mr Lloyd George’s Government will win the war, settle Ireland, and cement the Empire, but it needs pruning.”

PEACE INTRIQUE NIPPED IN THE BUD.

London, December 10

The Financial News says that, according to city information, Mr Lloyd George was only just in time to stop a peace intrigue, which was very far advanced. If it had developed further, it would have landed us in the most disastrous humiliation since the battle of Hastings. No Minister in living memory lias ever had behind him such a volume of public confidence and devotion.

AN INNER CABINET.

LATEST PROGNOSTICATIONS. WAR COUNCIL PERSONNEL. (Reserved 11.5 a.m.) London, December 10. Mr Lloyd George is devising an inner Cabinet, composed of the principalcolleagues, who alone will be summoned to every Cabinet Council. Thus the other members of the Cabinet will bo departmental chiefs, pure and simple. , The War Council will consist of four selected from the inner Cabinet. The latter will consist of Mr Lloyd George. | Mr Bonar Law. | Mr Balfour. 1 Lord. Milner. I Lord Derby. I Lord Curzou. | Mr A. Henderson. I Sir Edward Carson. | There are indications that, with a view to devoting himself almost exclusively to matters pertaining to the [conduct of war, Lloyd George proposes to delegate the, leadership of the House of Commons to Mr Bonar Law. This inferred that the latter would be outside the War Council, and Lord Milner would attend in his stead. Lord Curzon, as Lord President ol the Council, would be free from departmental cares, able to have complete activity in the work oi the inner [Cabinet, and would be Leader oi the House of Lords.

Mr Henderson would-be the spokes man for Hahour iu the M ar Council.

Reynolds’ newspaper mentions that Mr Hodge, president of the new Ministry of Labour, takes over all th e Labour side of the administration of the Ministry of Munitions. Mr Barnes is mentioned as Minister of Pensions; Mr Cave, lion, secretary; Mr Albert Stanley, president of the Local Government Board; Sir Frederick Smith, AttorneyGeneral ;

Mr Goodwin Heart, Solicitor-Gear nil;

Hr Herbert Fish, Vice-Chancellor of the Sheffield University and ('resident of the Board of Education ; - Sir G- Younger. Chief Secretary loi Scotland j Mr H. G. Duke, K.C., Chief Seeretarv for Ireland.

The Sunday Times says Mr Bailout is reconsidering his acceptance ot the Foreign Office. The News of the World says ’Mr Lloyd George proposes the State enrolment of all citizens for war work with fitting exceptions. The executive committee of the London Liberal Federation passed a resolution thanking Mr Asquith for his magnificent services to the Nation. and expressing unabated confidence in his leadership of the Party, and their determination to support the Government executive in the ■prosecution of the war. The Midland Liberal Federation, representing ten counties, are gratified at Mr Asquith’s decision to continue ihe leadership of the Party. and passed a resolution to support the Government in its desire to carry on the war to a successful w she-