MR ASQUITH RESIGNS.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15767, 7 December 1916, Page 7

MR ASQUITH RESIGNS.

MR BONAR LAW SENT FOR.

WIN FOR BRITISH "FORWARD" PARTY.

THE ATHENS AFFRAY.

IRREGULARS BLAMED BY CONSTANTINE

PLIGHT OF BUCHAREST.

ENEMY CAPTURE 17,000 PRISONERS.

(3rd YEAR—l29th DAY.)

BRITAIN'S PART. MR ASQUITH RESIGNS, j the crisis develops. The High Commissioner reports:— LONDON, December 5 (8.45 p.m.). The Prime Minister, the Right Hon. H. H. Asquith has placed his resignation in the bands of the King. MR LLOYD GEORGE ALSO. (Bv Cable.—Press Association. —Copyright.) (Australian uid N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, December 5Mr Lloyd George has resigned from the Ministry as a consequence of Mr Asquith's intention to continue as a member of the "War Council. SUBSEQUENT DEVELOPMENTS. (Received December 6th. 2.55 p.m.) LONDON, December 5. His Majesty this evening gave audience to Mr Lloyd George. The "Court Circular" announces that his Majesty has accepted Mr Asquith's resignation. MR LLOYD GEORGE SUMMONED. (Router's Telegrams.) (Received December 6th, 2.55 p.m.) LONDON, December 5. The King has summoned Mr Lloyd George. A CONTRADICTION.

It is hoped that Mr Asquith will remain in public life, and give tho country the benefit of his great experience and ability. He will probably receive a peerage. DECISION REACHED. FAILURE OF CONCILIATION. A CONFLICT OF VIEWS. i (Received December 6th, 10. oo p.m.) LONDON, December 6. ' Mr Asquith's resignation camo as a bombshell, showing that every effort to preserve the unity of the. Coalition Gov- . eminent lir.il failed. t Though Mr Lloyd George's wishes concerning the War Council were accepted in principle on Sunday. Mr Asquith contended that the powers of the Council must bo derived from the Cr.binet as a whole; consequently it was necessary to find Ministers who were prepared to delegate their authority to T a smaller body. Mr Lloyd George did not object to Mr Asquith being a member of tho Council, but he holds the view that a member of the Council cannot at tho samo time discharge the duties of Prime Minister, since his time would bo talcen up by a general administrative supervision and atten--1 dance at the House of Commons. "When it was found impossible to reconcile these conflicting views, Mr Asquith called the Liberal leaders together, including Viscount Grey, Mr Lewis Harcourt, Mr E. S. Montagu, Lord Reading; Lord Crowe, Mr McKenna, Mr Ilunciman, Mr H. L. Samuel, and Mr A. Henderson. Later Lord Curzon was called in, and oome menced negotiations with Mr Bonar Law. o Just before seven o'clock, Mr Ass quith drove to Buckingham Palace, and 5 had a half hour's audience with his o Majesty tho Kins. x When he returned to Downing street he was not carrying his portfolio. Apparently Mr Asquith suggested that the King should summon Mr Bonar Law. Throughout, Mr George was most conciliatory. His letter of resignation to Mr Asquith as a member a of his Ministry was couched in the j friendliest terms, and recalled the fact B that he ha,d enjoyed for a decade intimrJ ate personal association with Mr Asquith. It emphasised the fact that ' despite sharp differences of opinion occasionally, they had never had a personal quarrel. Mr Lloyd George proposes that the War Council shall meet twice daily or oftener. He attaches importance to the presence of a Labour Minister upon the Council, as he holds that Labour is o vitally concerned in tho effective pros secution of this gigantic conflict, o Mr Lloyd George Mr Bonar Law y. were no parties to tho efforts of the s Northcliffe Press to drive Mr Asquith _ from tho Premiership. They only r knew of Mr Asquith's final decision to j resign at 6.30, when Lord Curzon returned from the meeting of the Liberal members of the Cabinet. Three hours later Mr Bonar Law was summoned to Buckingham Palace. CABINET PROSPECTS. SOME RADICAL CHANGES. (Australian and N.Z. Gable Association.) (Received December 7th, 1 a.m.) LONDON, December 6. All the newspapers insist that the enemy need not draw comfort from Mr „ Asquith's resignation, since the only point at issue was the method of carrying on the war with the greatest vigour. All agree that Mr Bonar Law does not desire to form a purely party g administration, but wishes to keep the 0 coalition in existence. It is believed that- Mr E. S. Montagu and Mr H. L. Samuel, in addition to having sympathy with some of Mr' Lloyd George's aims, may serve in the new Government. Mr Samuel may succeed Mr R. McKenna as Chancellor t of tho Exchequer. It is expected that Lord Reading will be a prominent member of the Government —probably as Lord Chancellor. Viscount Grey. Mr Balfour, and Lord j. Lansdowne are not expected to continue in office. Mr McKenna, Mr >R unci man, Mr Harcourt, and T>ord C'rewe actively supo ported Mr Asquith. and were averse to r any compromise with Mr-Lloyd George. Thar also objected to the inclusion of

MR BONAR LAW SENT FOll. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received December 6th, 7.5 p.m.) LONDON, December 5. The report that Mr Lloyd George visited the King is untrue. •Mr Bonar Law was summoned to Buckingham Palace at 5.30. He is suggested as a likolv Premier, allowing Mr Lloyd Geor. and Sir Ed. Carson to run the war on the basis of permitting Sir John Jellicoe and Sir "VYm. Robertson a free h&n<l. MANY CONSULTATIONS. (Received December 6th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, December 5. There were many consultations in Downing street. Lord Crewe, Lord Cur/xjn, Mr R- McKenna, Mr Lewis Harcourt, Lord Buckmaster. and Mr E S Montagu all visited Mr Asquith. It was noticeable that Mr Lloyd George was absent from the callers. MR ASQUITH CONDEMNED. (United Service.) (Received December 6th, 7.5 p.m.) LONDON, December 5. The "Evening News," referring to Mr Llovd George's resignation, says that that of Lord Derby is expected to quickly follow. The country will support Mr Lloyd George because it is deeply exasperated by Greece's treacherous murder of British troops, for which the nation holds Mr Asquith and Viscount Grey responsible. AN HISTORIC EVENT. GENER AL ELECTION EXPECTED. PROBABLE PEERAGE FOR MR ASQUITH. (Australian and N.Z, Cable Association.) (Received December 6th, 11.55 p.m.) LONDON, December 6. A paragraph in tho "Court Circular" announced the historic happenings to the public.' It said that Mr Asquith had had an audience with his Majesty that evening, and tendered his resignation as Prime Minister, which the King had been graciously pleased to accept. It is generally believed that the resignation entails a general election. Before making an appeal to the country Mr Bonar Law will form a Government, for which he will seek the country's approval. The temper, at present of the House of Commons is against a new Government, especially jf° there is a wide belief that Mr Asquith has been unfairly driven from office. There is reason to believe that Mr Asquith desires not to put any obstacles in the way of the new Government, and will advise his Liberal, Lsbour, and Nationalist supporters to assist Mr Lloyd George arid .Mr Bonar Law.

.Sir Edward Carson in the Cabinet, but this is a cardinal feature in Mr Lloyd George's plan. Sir Edward Carson during the last year has shown great qualities of straightforwardness, saga- i city, and simple wisdom, and is gaining the respect of many members of Parliament Tvho previously were bitterly opposed to him. There are also possibilities of a settlement in Ireland, which Mr Lloyd George has always considered feasible. ' IRISH PARTY'S VIEWS. (Received December 7th, 1 a.m.) LONDON, December 6. Mr Kcdrconu, interviewed as to the Irish Party's views upon the crisis, said that they looked at it from a uiiferent standpoint to that of the other parties. "We are excluded from the responsibilities for the direction of the affairs of the Empire while the right of Government is denied to Ireland. From tho outset we condemned the coalition, a.s wo felt that the results would be disastrous to Iroland and that it would prove a weak and ineffective instrument tor carrying on tho war." THE NEGOTIATIONS. MR ASQUITH'iS ATTITUDE. (Reuter'a Telegrams..i I LONDON, December o. The "Westminster Gazette'' anannounccs that Mr Asquith definitely declined the proposal to form a War Council of which ho would not be a member. The next move remains with IMr Lloyd Gcorgt-. It is understood that Viscount Grey and most of the principal members of the Cabinet supix>rt Mr Asquith. Tho "Gazette" adds: "Mr Lloyd George demanded a smaller War Council with practically unlimited powers, tho Premier to \tc excluded, and only I to have the right to veto the decisions. Mr Asquith approved of the Council, but held that the Premier must be I chairman. Therefore he said he would I rather resign than submit to any other arrangement." MANY CROJS-CUKKEXTS. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON. December 5. Tho latest news shows that the political situation is still difficult. Lobby | opinion attaches great importance to | Mr Bonar Law's efforts at conciliation, but there is a general expectation that Mr Asquith will not consent to be excluded from the. War Committee. Mr Lloyd George still desires to be President of the Committee, while retaining the War Ministry with Earl Derby as Undcr-Seerotai-y for War performing the actual work of the War Office. The "Daily Chronicle" says: "The Ministerial crisis has developed. Yesterday there was a persistent rumour that I\lr Asquith would resign to-day. Mr Asquith has not yet abandoned the idea or reconstructing th c Government, but thc situation is not hopeful. Mr Lloyd George and Mr Bonar Law conjointly submitted proposals for a War Council with executive powers of which the Prime Minister could not be a member, but over whose decisions he jvould have jhe right of veto. The War Council would then consist of Mr Lloyd George, Mr Bonar Law, Sir Edward Carson, and Mr Arthur Henderson. ■ Though Mr Asquith was unable to accept this proposal, ho favours a small War Council, but considers that he should be its chairman, otherwise he would be placed in a humiliating iiosition and prefers to resign. Viscount Grey and otiier lAbcvat members of tht- Cabinet support iSir Asquith. If -Mr Asquith does "ot accept or resign, Ivi;- Lioyd uc-orgo anil thc Unionist members oi the Cuuuioo will withdraw, and tiio oniy means ot escaping i'aialiainemary embanass-ine-ms wouid be a general election."

LABOUR PARTY'S ATTITUDE j LONDON. December 5. ' Mr G. J. Wardle. M.P. for Stock-j lort, haa announced that the Labour j L*artjr unreservedly supports Mr Vsquith with its whole strength. FRENCH GOOD WISHES. PARIS, December 5. The ".Matin" says: 'Mr Lloyd George is expecting, under threat of resignation, to create a War Council in- i rested -with full powers. France wishes Lhe new organisation success." AS VIEWED BY GERMANY. AMSTERDAM. December .",. The crisis in England is causing widespread intere.-i in Germany, where it is believed that- Mr Lloyd George will lead a Cabinet including Major Winston Churchill and Sir Edward Carson. The "Yorwaerts" says: "The Lloyd j George conspirators have got the | upper hand. Our energetic submar- J ine warfare has caused distrust in the capability of the Government. The j Roumanian catastrophe- threatens to damage the Entente's prestige more than any other failure in the war. The German cannons before Bucharest are also hitting Asquith and Grey." NEW PENSION SCALE. j LONDON, December 5. The House of Commons has passed the Amended Pension Rill. POSITION OF IRELAND. A DRAMATIC SETTLEMENT. (Received. December 6th, 7 p.m ( ) j LONDON, December 5. I The "Daily Chronicle'-' states that Sir Ed. Carson has devised a dramatic settlement of the Irish question on the basis of the immediate granting of Home Rule, including Ulster, if the Nationalists will agree to conscription. DETAILS OF THE PLAN. ' (Australian and X.Z. C.tbic Association.) (Received December 7th, 1 a.m.) LONDON. December (5. The "Daily Chronicle" states that plans aro maturing for a dramatic settlement of the Irish question in the event of Sir Edward Carson re-enter-ing the Cabinet. Sir Edward Carson has secured the consent of his Ulster colleagues to the establishment of a Home Rule Parliament for the whole of Ireland, the Protectants to bo represented on the basis of proportional representation. Ulster will be included for a period of three years, after which an opportunity will bo given for a revision of the conditions. The acceptance of the scheme is dependent -.pon the Nationalists agreeing to an extension of conscription to Ireland, thus bringing in an additional 150,000 soldiers'. Martial law would be abolish 2d. It is hoped that some Nationalists will join Mr Bonar Law's Government. Discussions have been going on between the Irish leaders, Mr Lloyd George, and Sir Edward Carson for some time. RECRUITING IN IRELAND. Sir-Edward Carson issued the followin;' statement in the middle of October: In the snoeeh of Lord Wimborne Lord-Lieutenant, of Ireland, made in. Dublin on Monday lust with reierenco to Irish recruiting, hi* Excellency is reported as saying:—"Since mobilisation Ulster ha t ? contributed 54,000. or whom 40,000 were Protestants. Leinster has contributed 12,000, Connaught 4000, Minister 10,000, and Dublin 19,000. That wns a splendid contribution, and nothing could detract from it." These figures show that Ulster s contribution of recruits was more than that of the three other provinces added together. As Donegal, Cavan, and Mona'<rhan have. I believe, only contributed about 3000 between them, it will be seen that the other six Ulster counties have contributed about as many as the throe Southern Provinces together. Lord Wimborno gives the fmuros of males of military ago as 5 ( J2,000. This was the figure given last year by Mr Birrell in the House of Commons, made up as follows: — Leinster ... ... 174,597 Ulster ... • 169,389 Minister 136,037 Connaught ... 81,302It will thus be seen that the percentage of males of .military age who have been recruited since the war is, according to these figures, as follows: — Per cent. Ulster ... ... 31.8 Leinster (including Dublin) ... ••• 17.7 Munster ••• : - H-7 Connaught ... ... 4.0 Tliis is what his Excellency describes as "a splendid contribution, and nothing could detract from it"! But the figures quoted "by Lord Wimborne do not include (as stated by Mr Birrell) ,inv males of the age between 18 and 19" This would add another 40,000 or thereabouts, which would increase the figure of 502,000 to 602,000, and v.'Ould therefore reduce the percentage. I have already, stated. It is, in my opinion, a great mistake to pretend that Ireland has made a "splendid contribution" —it is not true, and it is an encouragement to leave unfinished the work so splendidly commenced by Irish soldiers v at the front. THE FOOD PROBLEM. LLMITS ON MEALS. (Australian and N'.Z. Association.) (Router's Telegrams.) (Received December 6th. 7 p.m.) LONDON, December 5. The Board of Trade has issued an order which limits meals in public places and boardinghonses to fnrco courses in the evening, and two courses at other meals, cheese not being reckoned, while meatless and Ashless hors d'eeuvre, soup and dessert are counted as a half-cotir.se each. A further order is foreshadowed providing for meatless days universally. SEIZURE OF WHISKY. ("The Timet") LONDON, December 5. The Government, after January, will take over all p at<?nt st '" whisky made in Scotland. Only 70 per cent, of the present consumption wil] be allowed to be distilled by malt distillers. The total prohibition of whisky is not suggested. The spirit is the best known substance for making high explosives.

The "Cnronicle" aaa.s : —"'A scron<j effort is bein.2 made not to saddle x\lx Mc&ennaanci -Mr Kuncnnan, wJio desiro to conserve our linanciai and shipping resources, and are accoidiuyiy opposed to new military auventures oveiseas. It is generally oeaoved tnat -Ur ijaifour will shortly leave the Admiralty, and fc>ir lid warn Carson is a possible successor. Mr G. -£N. llarnes is likely to join the Cabinet- The JL< orward Party in the House of Commons strongly supports -Mr Lloyd George, and favours a diastic puige, and it it whittles down the original proposals bitter disappointment will Dj produced, and Mr Jjloyd George's, iniiuence will be paralysed. Ula . party lines are largely ooliterated, and 111 lobby discussions members of the House of Commons are taking it lor granted that they could adjust themselves to a new coalition as easily as they did to the old one. The Aationalists hold sternly aloof. Labour opinion is generally neutral, but endorses the pioposal that Labour should have larger representation in the Government, and be more actively associated with the direction of the war. A meeting of uiiotftcial Liberals, including Sir John Simon, Mr BirrelL and Mr iiobhousc, which attracted about sixty members, failed to carry a motion condemning the forces which have continually sought to overthrow the Government." Mr Barnes is Labour M.P. for .Glasgow. He was in 189i2-o assistant general secretary of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers, and in 1890-1908 general secretary of the A.S.E. and Co-operative Printing Society. He started work in a jute miil at cloven, but was later apprenticed to an engineer. He has published a history of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers, and the report of the Moseley Indusrial Commission to America. A LIBERAL MEETING. LONDON, December o. The Liberal members' meeting carried a general voto of confidence in Mr Asquith bv forty-three votes to eight, with, ten Abstentions. The meeting eonclusivelv proved th*it Sir John Simon s party, who opposes Mr Lloyd George, is in only small strength i n the. Liberal Party. The crisis has shown that behind the conflict of personalities there is a conflict of policies. One body of Ministers favours concentrating all their strength upon the fighting services, others argue that if we deplete industries in order to fill the army, we deprive ourselves of the means ol financing the war. The difficulties of the Asquith Government have been increased by the miserable results of the Allied diplomacy in Greeco and the deplorable withdrawal of British and French marines after the attack on Friday.

The Northcliffe papers hare commenced vigorous attacks on Viscount Grey and Lord Robert Cecil. It is also* believed that Mr Lloyd George favours Viscount Grey's resignation. Mr J. H. Thomas, M.P. for Derbv. and assistant-secretary of the National Union of Railwaymen, speaking at Kentish Town, said the present political happenings calculated to cause dismay in the trenches. If the working man went on strike, he was abused and called a traitor and other unsavoury names, and finally brought under the regulations of the Munitions A.ct Statesmen should be treated similarlv if they struck. They could not expect workers to do their duty unless the leaders set an example. This fooling must stop. The country would not tolerate dictatorship, but was fed up with the Press eanmaign of calumny and slander. If the Premier was unfit, to sit on thf War Council, then he was . nfit to hold office as Premier.