WHY SIR E. CARSON RESIGNED.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 November 1915, Page 5

WHY SIR E. CARSON RESIGNED.

mm THE BALKANS SITUATION. A STRONG LETTER. Received Nov. 3, 10.15 p.m. London, Nov. ". Sir E. Carson, continuing, said that the whole question waß the concentration of responsibility upon a small number of competent men, who should si( dail with the best export advisers, working out the problems as they arose. The gravest instance as to how thr Cabinet worked could be found iu the. Balkans situation The Premier had just said that the Government had made up their minds in conjunction with their fillies to carry out their pledge to Serbia. Sir E. Carson said he wished a decision to be made weeks ago, and valuable time had been lost. When he learned that that pledge was no longer the Government's policy, and there were no plans for carrying it out, he severed his connection with the Cabinet.

Sir E., Carson then read a letter, dated October 12, justifying his resignation and pointing out that it was impossible for hiin to support the conclusion of the War Council which had been reached the previous day. He wrote that in view of Sir E. Grey's declaration of September 28 he was unable to understand how England could abandon Serbia to her fate without national dishonor, even if we were not bound. His letter pointed out the probable effects on the other Balkan States, and he urged the Government to proceed vigorously with the concentration of troops at Salonika, and use our naval power where possible to demonstrate that we were reserve SerWa for the Serbians, as we had undertaken 1 to restore Belgium to the Belgians. Enormous efforts could be mode to compel Greece to fulfil her treaty obligations. The Allies had sent troops to Salonika at Greece's invitation, and we would be rendered ridiculous in the eyes of the Powers if compelled to withdraw

The letter continued: "King Constantino's party is afraid of the Central Powers. We ought to mnlte Greece afraid of us, and our naval supremacy enables us to do this. I would not hesitate to inform Greece, that unless she is prepared to continue her policy of joining the Allies to defend Serbia we will draw off relations. "I do not believe that, once Germnay is given access to the lines of communication, it will be possible to maintain our forces at Gallipoli." Sir E. Carson, resuming his speech, said he did not care a straw what men carried on the war, so long as they used every possible effort to realise the victory to which we were all looking.

SIR E. GREY'S STATEMENT. NO HESITANCY. Sir E. Grey, following Jlr. Asqntth, emphatically denied that through vacillation or hesitation help had been lost to Serbia. '"We have been in close consultation with France as to the best use we could make of the forces sent to the Near East. There was absolutely no delay. All forces at our disposal' were landed at Salonika, and are now engaged in operations in the Balkans, while preparations are being made for sending further forces to the East. All the assistance, in the power of Britain and France were given Serbia in her hour of need, after the Greek Government took a different view of her treaty obligations to Serbia." A debate followed on the formal motion for adjournment, which consequently terminated without a vote.