TERMS OF SETTLEMENT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2752, 22 April 1916, Page 5

TERMS OF SETTLEMENT

ONE MORE VOLUNTEER EFFORT

Tp IMMEDIATE COMPULSION

(Rcc. April 21, 10.50 p.m.)

London, April 20. . The effect of the Cabinet dissensiba upon our enemies was a vital factor ii influencing the- compromise. - The term( of settlement include the tions of the first Cabinet Committer upon recruiting,- namely, compulsion for single men of the age of 18. and the re-enlistment. of time-expired service men.

The threatened resignations of' • Mr,- . Lloyd George and Mr. Bocar Law wers i still the stumbling block when Cabinet/ ' in the morning faced the crisis. It was expected that many, perhaps all, of the ; Unionist Ministers would likewise ' resign, involving the break-up of the Coali- j tion Government. An earnest resulted. Mr. Lloyd George no longer ■ insisted on immediate general compul- ; sion, and Accepted the majority's plan ; to re-open the Derby scheme, allowing ■ probably sis weeks for further voluntary, • enlistment of married men.

Another .recruiting .campaign is being opened:;in; which, the Labour 'Party; has promised its Co-operation. ■ The crux of the settlement is' that unless a secretly specified)'number enlist within a certain time, general compulsion will follow immediately thereafter. The secret session is an innovation which Parliamentary procedure 'has never: contemplated since the House of Commons was thrown open to the Presß in 1835. Although regarded in some, quarters as a dangerous precedent,. it is generally popular. The Commoners appreciate the gravity of the situation and the importance of not disclosing to the enemy any military facts. There it not likely to be any large body of. op; position.

Many police are on guard at minster, and do not piermit strangers enter the precincts. AU the -gallone' aro locked.

Mr. Hodge, M.P., a Labour leader Bays: "If compulsion is necessary, j agree, and the,sooner tho better. ; doubt the success of a fresh recruitin( campaign." •