MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 December 1916, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

THE CR'.SIS ENDED. LLOYD IiEOMJi HAS lIIS WAY. A COUNCIL OF FOUR .Received Dee. 5, !>.5 p.m. London,' Dec. 4.; The Evening Standard says the acute stage in the crisis has paused. Mr. Lloyd t»u>rge lias got substantially what lie wants, including a small War Council wiih ample powers enabling quick decisions, whereat -Mr. Asquith will have power to attend. It will probably eonsift of Mr. Lloyd George, Mr. Bonar lav. Sir K. Carson, and .Mr. Henderson. It. is asserted the Unionists urged Mr. Asquith to resign, but withdrew the re' que.-1 noon the receipt of a message from A-nuith. '.I ill' levelling Standard adds: Thif Council of four will be an admirabh working body. Sir E. Carson is a suit able colleague for Admiral dellicoe ai the Admiralty, Mr. lionar Law will go to the Treasury, and Mr. Balfour to the Colonial Cilice. Mr. MeKenna, who gained Mr. Asquith's confidence r in dealing n itli colossal figures and harmonising tlm Allies' finance, is naturally dissatisfied al the proposed rearrangement. CONFIDENCE IN MR. ASQUITH. Received Dec. 5, 10 p.m. London, Doc. 5. In the House of Commons, a hundred Liberal members passed a resolution of confidence in Mr. Asquith, declaring his continuance of the Premiership was necessary in order to retain national unity, and to successfully prosecute the war. MR. ASQUiTH'S STATEMENT. London, Dec. 4. When t,ho House of Commons met there was a very full attendance and 'considerable excitement, but the leading members of Oiv Cabinet were conspicuous •by their absence. Sir Edward Carson arrived early. Or,est ions proceeded for an hour before Mr. Asquith appeared. He was vvrnnly welcomed. Ml Asquith. replying to a question asked by Sir E. Carson, said he would shortly announce important decisions on the food problem and would pre sently give Ihe House an opportunity of discussion if it was desired. Answering a question by .Mr. Dillon whether the food dictator's name could liiven Mr. Asquith said: "No such .T.r.s exists. Ido not like-the word liieiatcr." , Mr. Asquith proceeded that the King iic.d approved of the reconstruction of the Cabinet. Mr. Asquith ibought the personnel should be deferred until progress was completed, if it was completed, and the best course in the cirennv stances was to proceed with to-day's uneoiitroversia' business and adjourn until Thursday. Lord 'Robert Cecil stated that the position in lireece had become e.vtremely grave. A most treacherous and unprovoked attack had been made on the All'cs' landing detachments despite the repealed assurances of the King and the (iovermnent that there would be no disturbance. Many casualties had occurred, but full reports were awaited. The Allies were now' considering immediate measures with the view of radically altering the situation. Mr. M'Kenmi announced that a (1 per cent, loan of 100 million yen had been arranged with the Japanese banks. The proceeds would be immediately available in America. ' Mr.' Dillon, at. ft later stage, appealed for h longer adjournment, if Mr. Asquith was uncertain that he would he able to make a definite announcement on Thursday. Mr Pringle contended that the House should have ar opportunity to discuss the new situation. Mr. Asquith said he desired to make it perfectly plain to the House and country that any reconstruction ol the Cabinet would not involve a departure in any shape or form from the policy already announced and pursued sinco the beginning of the war. If anybody encouraged or entertained the idea that there was any question of change of policy he could assure them that they were" entirely mistaken. He was willing to leave the period of adjournment to the Housj. Sir J. 11. Dalziel asked whether arrangements would be made for Ministers to carry on their work during the interval. He understood that the resignations of all the Ministers were in the Prime Minister's hands. Mr Asquith said there would be no difficulty about Ministers performing their duties. The first business on reassembling wculd be the credit vote, which would .all'ord an ( opportunity to discuss any topic. Mr Asq'.'.ith's motion to adjourn to Thursday after to-day's business was curried without a division, though the Nationalists strongly protested. London, Dee. 4. Mr. Asquith had an hour's audience with the King before the House of Commons met.

' GREEK MINISTER'S ACTION; London, Dec. 4. M. Gradious, Greek Miiiist.fr in London, lias resigned as a protest against the Greek Government's policy. BRITISH SUBMARINE CAMPAIGN URGED.

London, Deo. 4. Admiral Sir Cyprian Bridge states! that the arming of < merchantmen, which involves tin' use of lli,ooo guns and 32,000 .■pinners, does not mend the difficulty, as British, cargoes are often carried in neutral vessels. Tlk Germans have made it plain that the neutral flag does not protect from submarining. Admiral Bridge advocates the extensive use of submarine craft properly supported by the fleet, so as to protect our cwn as well as neutral merchantmen.