BRITAIN.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 December 1915, Page 5

BRITAIN.

COMPULSION SCHEME. J t CABINET AT VARIANCE. ! 1 London, Dec. 29. ' fho newspapers' announcement that ( Cabinet has adopted the principle, of ' compulsion lias eased public tension, i Opposition to compulsion has notably 1 decreased in the last few weeks, even in extreme Radical circles. This is largely due to the silent pressure of the millions who attested in Lord_ Derby's groups and their friends. Unmarried men who joined, us well as married, feel that they are directly interested in the fulfilment of Mr. Asquith's pledge. Tile growing seriousness of the military situation is another factor. This is also seen in the rush to the recruiting offices after the holidays, due to men home on '■ furlough from France showing their I friends the necessity for the strongest ' national effort. ! When Cabinet's decision was made : known the first impression was that a ] number of resignations was certain. 1 Pourparlers with dissentient Ministers I followed the Cabinet. As there were no immediate resignations there is now a general hope that a crisis will be averted, though it is thought that some re-arrangement of offices may follow. The appointment of a member of the Cabinet to the Viceroyalty of India is expected. The leaders of the Labor Tarty accept Mr. Asquith's decision regarding the necessity for compulsion, but the party will meet early to discuss the matter. It is anticipated that only the noisy Socialist section, under Messrs. Snowden and MaelJonald, will eventually oppose tlie Government. Possibly Ireland will be left out altogether, though the question whether the exclusion of Ireland will mean the exclusion of Ulster would be a bitter pill for the northern provinces. The London Daily News says that until ,23 classes of unmarried men are called up the married men can claim the protection of the pledge. With only a 'million and a quarter men in the field out of three millions under arms there can be no question for months of any shortage of reserves, even with the net wastage in the interval. There is, -therefore, ample time for a determined effort to avoid compulsion, which will be strenuously opposed in the House of Commons. London, Dee. 29. The Dominions' High Commissioners will attend the Allies' inter-parlia-mentary commercial conference meeting at Paris on March (S, to which delegates of the Allied Parliaments have been summoned to discuss commercial relations with belligerents during the war, the execution of contracts, recovery of debts, protection against German commercial invasion after the war, establishment of postal and transport tariffs in favour of the Allies, and an Allied preferential tariff applicable to the colonies. RESIGNATIONS INEVITABLE. BUT CABINET WILL SURVIVE. Received Dec. 30, 5.5 p.m. London, Dec. 29. The resignation of certain members of the Cabinet is considered inevitable. Most newspapers regard the position complacently, and anticipate that thfe opposition will subside in the face of Mr, Asquith's explanation on Tuesday and the peculiar needs of the situation. The general impression is that the entire Cabinet must accept the responsibility of the pledge, though opinion is divided as to whether the pledge was necessary or wise. Neither a break-up of the Government nor an election is now feared. In the event of Messrs MeKenna, Runciraan, and Harcourt and Sir John Simon resigning it is considered that the National Government will survive, as it will not be greatly diminished in strength. Some papers consider that there will be no change in the majority against compulsion in the House of Commons, and legitimate discussion on details is expected. The position at the moment is that the Government is decided on compulsion, hut is not decided regarding exemptions. THE ATTITUDE OF LABOR. WILL PROBABLY FAVOR TEMPORARY COMPULSION. London, Dec. 29. Labor's position is keenly watched, as the decision came as an unpleasant shock. In view of the latest estimates that possibly 750,000 unmarried men have not attested, it is anticipated that many Laborites who were formerly violent anti-conscriptionists will have modified •their views, and will be prepared to sanction compulsion, realising that the Government has no other course. A Labor vonferenee is expected to be held during the next few days, when Mr. Henderson will explain the information that has influenced the Cabinet. The result of the conference will probably disclose a growing opinion in favor of tern-' porary compulsion. Mr. C. W. Bowerman comments: "Two million volunteered, and it is an insult and outrage to the country to talk of conscription. The Merthyr election was regarded as a significant pointer to Labor's changed attitude of viewing conscription, which was bad, but defeat will be worse. It has heeji diseovered that in districts in which men have held hack there is abundance of work at high wage-." PRESS VIEWS. FAVORABLE TO CONSCRIPTION. Received Dec. 30, 8.30 p.m. London, Dec. 29. It is still believed in some quarters that actual conscription is unnecessary, and that a compromise will probably yet suffice. The Westminster Gazette hopes that ! compulsionists will not regard the Government's decision as a triumph for ■ their principles, but purely as an emergency war measure. The Evening News says that the traditional objections to compulsion have been swept aside by the revelations ot the war and the Empire's need for a movement to necessary victory. The Globe says that only fools and fanatics will question the justice of the decision, which will have the desirable effect. The Allies are realising that England is at last warring in earnest. The Evening Standard believes that : the decision is thoroughly papular in the country generally.

The Pall Mall Gazette says that the method most favored is to compel un'married men to attest under 'Lord ■ Derby's group Bcheme within a fixed period, and thus volunteers and conscripts will be placed in the eatne position. The King, in a letter to Lord Derby, says; "We must now work in connection. As the King's appeal to recruits is now over, his Majesty hopes that every man who is entitled to it will wear an armlet as proof that he will follow his countrymen in response to the call." SITUATION EASIER. j t SIR E. GREY AS CONCILIATOR, 1 Received Dec. 30, 10.30 p.m. f London, Dec. 30. The Daily Chronicle says that the i situation has eased, and the crisis may I pass without resignations, Sir E.' Grey, who specially dreads any .weakening of I the solidarity of the nation, is endeavor- ( ing to act as conciliator, but much de- < pends upon Messrs MeKenna and Runci- 1 man, whose withdrawal would cause a < grave situation. Their retention will 1 facilitate, a smooth passage for the Compulsion Bill. ' i LORD KITCHEN ICR . AGAINST CON- ' . SCItIPTION, I Received Dec. 30, 11.15 p.m. 1 London, Dec. 30. 1 It transpires that there was a larger 1 majority against conscription than was 1 expected, and it includes Mr. Hender- ! son, Lord Kitchener, and Mr. Balfour, whose predilection for the voluntary ' system is well-known. Other questions ' that the public are discussing are the : possibility of Cabinet resignations and the voting strength of the Opposition 1 in the Commons. j MR. McKENNA'S REASONS. It is understood that Mr. MeKenna , bases his opposition partly upon a personal doubt as to the size of the army that Britain requires to win the war, and partly to the financial commitments. Mr. Runciman regards the volume of trade as an indispensable factor to war equipment. Messrs McKenna's and Runciman's supporters generally anticipate their resignations, tout Mr. Asquith has a wonderful knack of keeping his flock together, NOT TO BE HUSTLED. Received Dec. 30, 11.35 p.m. London, Dec. 30. The Manchester Guardian, in a lead- ; ing article, summing up the position, says: "A considerable body of Radical opinion says that we recognise for the purposes of the present war that Britain is no longer an island, and we must meet Continental armies with an army on a Continental scale. We au : mit that compulsion may be necessary in certain circumstances, but we are not going to accept it on demand and clamor; we arc not going to be hustled into conscription. Lord Derby's scheme has not yet been fully utilised and analysed." ALLIES APPLAUD DECISION. LABOR PARTICIPATION. Received Dec. 31, 1.10 a.m. London, Dec. 30. French and Italian newspaper applaud the Cabinet's decision on the recruiting problem. Interest in Britain is concentrating on 'the action that Labor is likely to take over the matter. The Conference meets to-day, representing the Labor party, the Trade Union Congress, and the trade Union Federation. The Cabinet meeting arranged for today has been postponed to Friday. It is suggested that this was done to enable Cabinet to consider Labor's attitude. The Daily News recalls Labor's anticonscription resolutions, and adds that the situation has changed. The paper trusts that the Labor conference will not be influenced by the sharp practices of the compukionists. If it is found that the. facts justify the Cabinet's decision the Daily Mail hopes that the Labor leaders will remember their own manifesto in the newspapers in October. The gravest responsibility attaches to anyone stirring up strife aft'jv Cabinet's decision.