MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 March 1917, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

DARDANELLES REPORT. MR. ASQUITH'S EXPLANATIONS, WAR COUNCIL GUIDED BY EXPERTS OPERATIONS SAVED POSITION IN CAUCASUS. London, March 20. The House of Commons was crowded to hour Mr. Asquith's statement on the Dardanelles report. Those present In- '■' '1 General Smuts and Sir Joseph Ward.

.ur Asquith said it would have been better to postpone the controversy on the responsibility for past events until after the war, but the manner of the publication of the report and the use to which i|t had been put, rendered it necessary to say something immediately, not only in his own interests and those of his colleagues on the War Council, who included distinguished members of the present Government, but in the interest? of one 1 who was not able to speak for himself —Lord Kitchener.

Without the evidence it was impotjsile for anyone to form an opinion on the justice of the conclusions of the repprt. They were now told that it was not in the national interest to publish the evidence. He therefore was bound to ask, in the name of common sense and common justice, why was not the same consideration put forward regarding th? report itself? Mr Asquith asked for what other purpose experts were summoned. Hin political and civil colleagues, including the present Prime Minister, would bear him out in saying that he had never known an espert Bbow the least reluctance in giving his opinions, whether invited or uninvited. It was their duty to d& so. The Cabinet never abrogated its i;H : imte ai'thnritv in his time. It was unfortunate that Lord Kitchener had died before the Commission sat. He asked the Attorney-General to sec that Lord Kitchener's case was properly represented. The Attorney-General appeared so that Lord Kitchener's interests might be amply safeguarded.

Received March 21, 9.30 p.m. London, March 21. In the House of Commons, Mr. Asquith said the Dardanelles expedition was primarily, naval, because Lord Kitchener had proved to the War Council that troops were unavailable. The War Council spent three whole days examining the available resources of men, and even summoned Lord French from France to hear his views. The War Council also ascertained the opinions of other British and French experts. The whole naval expert opinion favored the enterprise. Lord Fisher's adverse view was not founded on technical or naval objections, but on the avowed preference, for a different objective in a totally different sphere. Dealing with the alleged delay in sending troops, including the Twenty-ninth Division, he emphasised the immense difficulties there aneiit. The Russian position was then bad, and there was an urgent presoui'e bv finuoral Joffre unnti Lord French l to keep the Twenty-ninth Division. Lord ■c: , r nucht have Been riorht or wrong. Certainly he had weighty reasons. Moreover, what would have been said if the civilian members of the War Council overruled Lord Kitchener while the operations were proceeding? He was almost hourly in consultation with Tnvl K''tdinner. Viscount Grey, and Mr. Cliurchill, Therefore he took strong exception to the statement in the report that the War Council had not met during the critical period. Speaking of the operations generally, Mr. Asquith maintained that they bad saved the position in the Caucasus, they had prevented for months the defection of Bulgaria, and kept 200,000 Turks immobilised; and destroyed the corps d'elite of the Turkish army, and contributed to the recent favorable events in Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Persia.

COMMISSIONERS' OBITER DICTUM Mr. Asquith further stated that the Commissioners expressed the opinion that the machinery of the war during the first foui months was clumsy and inefficient. This was a mere obiter dictum. There was no evidence to entitle them to come to such a conclusion. The first four months presented problems that .were as numerous and complicated as had ever fallen to the lot of any statesmen.

LET HISTORY JUDGE. ' T: am qu'te content to leave the manner wherein they were confronted and handled to the judgment of history," added Mr. Asquith. "When the War Council reached the conclusion it formulated -it in writing, read it aloud, and for greater certainty and security immediately circulated all the Departments concerned. The position of the experts was precisely as it always had been in the Committee of Imperial defence. They there give the lay members the benefit of their advice. 1 '