EARL DERBY'S SCHEME

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 308, 28 December 1915, Page 5

EARL DERBY'S SCHEME

CABINET DISSENSION HINTED. A GENERAL ELECTION THREAT. LONDON, December" 27. Cabinet will to-day take up consideration of the figures of the Earl of Derby's scheme. The "Daily Mail" and '"Times'" elate that the anti-conipuUorist minority ia the Cabinet claim that they.are not parties to Mr Asqiiith's pledge. .11-Air Asquith decides that the proportion of unmarried men who have attested is insufficient, those favouring compulsion will demand action in favour of an immediate general election, if this is" necessary to decide the problem. The . a.nlicompuleionists favour" single men being given another chance by being summoned before, local tribunals and require! to give reasons for not attesting within a fortnight. EARL DERBY'S CIRCULAR. The following is the text of the famous recruiting circular issued throughout Great Britain by Lord Derby, DirectorGeneral of Recruiting:— War Office. Whitehall. S.W., October 30, 1915. Sir, —At my request, the Parliamentary Recruiting Committee, representing all /political parties working in conjunction with the Joint Labour Recruiting Committee are organising a great recruiting campaign to induce men who can be spared to come forward voluntarily for service in the Army. If this effort doee not succeed, the country knows that everything possible will have been done to make the voluntary system a success, and will have to decide by what method sufficient recruits can be obtained to maintain our armies in the field at their required strength.

Mr Asquith pledged this country to support our allies to the fullest extent in our power. It was a pledge given on behalf of the nation and endorsed by all parties. Every man of military age and fitness must equally bear his share in redeeming it.

May I. as Director-General of Recruiting, beg you to consider your own position? Ask yourself whether, in a country lighting as ours is for its very existence, you are doing all you can for its safety, and whether the reason you have hitherto held valid for not enlisting holds good at the present crisis. Lord Kitchener \vant6 every man he can get. Will you not be one of those who respond to your country's call. —1 am. voure iaithfully. DERBY, Director-General of Recruiting.