PARLIAMENT AND THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 123, 16 February 1918, Page 7

PARLIAMENT AND THE WAR

DEBATE IN HOUSE OF COMMONS SUPREME WAR COUNCIL \ SIR WILLIAM ROBERTSON'S POSITION , (Rec. February 15, 7.45 p.m.) I London, February LJ. ) In the course of the debate on the Addicss-in-Reply, Mr. Lloyd George (the Prime •Minister), referring to the pt-uce terms put fonvard by Count Ozernin and Count von Hertling, said Impound nothing in their speeches . which could be regarded as a proof k that tile Central Powers were prepar- . Ed for a peace on just and reasonable j terms. Britain did not recedo from j her stated war aims. "It is our re- I j grettable duty," said the Prime Miu| I ister, "to go on with the prepara-/ >. tions necessary to establish interna- > tional right in the world." deferring to the War, Council, Mr. Lloyd George said he could not give the information Mr. Asquith had asked for. The Allies had had an overwhelming superiority on the West - front, but that superiority had rapidly 1 diminished, especially during the last 3 few weeks. Till this year there had s bet.n no attack the Germans could ) bring against the British and French . armies which could not be dealt with . byJStliG reserves of each army.' The situation had been completely, changed 3 by the enormous German "reinforce--3 ments from the Bast. Tho Council c dealt with a situation where it was ab- ) Boiutely essential that the whole ; strength of the Allied armies could be 3 made available at the point from which ah attack came. Tho Allies would treat their armies as one to meet the danger. The Council established complete unity. The powers conferred upon the Council could not be stated without disclosing military secrets of the first magnitude. Mr. Bonar Law stated that the Govj crnnicnt lwd built 1,163,474 tons of new p shipping during 1917,, and had bought ; 170,000 tons abroad. "Our imports for tiie last quarter of 1917 were the same as.iii the early part of the year." Mr. Uonar Law declared that he had 110 more interest in the present than in the. lato. Premier, and had served ;•• both loyally. If the. House were dis-1 1 satisfied with the Government its duty 5 was to get another in which it had con- ' lidonce. Otherwise, destructive criticJ ism should cease. The position in 3 Russia was obscure. He declined to say whether Russia was now an. Ally, or neutral, or an enemy. He announced that the manifesto issued after tlie Versailles Council represented the views of all tho Allies. Members with pacifist sympathies urged the Government to withdraw the Paris Economic Conference resolutions, 7 and also to redefine its war aims, parf' ticularly m" regard to Alsace-Lorraine. Mr. J. A. Thomas (the railway men's . secretary) said that it would be tho [ greatest danger if the country w r ere compelled to negotiate for peace owing to . pressure at home. The Labour Party was determined that an international conference of the people would \ be held shortly. Some of the leaders ', were going to Paris to-morrow to ari. range for the conference, and tho warned tho Government not to attempt to stop them. Lord Robert Cecil, closing tho de- . bate, hotly\ protested against the pacifists' demand that Britain should, repudiate her treaties. In regard to tho German interpretation of the phrase: "Freedom of the seas," the latest pronouncement, Count Iteventlow's, demanded the possession of maritime territory and naval bases; whereby '. upon an outbreak of war she would be able to guarantee herself jumping-off places with a fair chance of dominating the seas. Therefore tho .possession of tho. Flanders seaboard was a matter of life and death to Germany. He was not aware whether Count Revon How was the mouthpiece of the Government, but he was the representative of a clique which usually exerted sway over the German Government. Mr. Holt's amendment was rejected by 159 votes to.2B.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. / . / SIR WILLIAM ROBERTSON . CONFLICTING RUMOURS. i j' , London, February 14. Lord Hugh Cecil, M.P., in a-letter to the ''Times," says there is danger of domestic politics sinking into a feud between Mr., Asquith and Mr. Lloyd George, and an even greater danger that Mr. Lloyd George and General Sir William Robertson will not agree on a certain question of military policy, though the -efficient conduct of the war depends on their hearty sympathy and co-operation. This suggests that a new; National Government should ibe formed, of which Mr. Asquith and Mr. Lloyd-Georgo should'bo members, but, with another Premier, to the country would give universal support. The Central News has stated that although Sir.William Robertson has neither been dismissed nor has resigned, 'ho' may vacate his post at an early date for a position of high influence. , The "Daily Chronicle" asserts that Sir William Robertson will remain at the War Office.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ■ ' -' WILL RETAIN OFFICE. (Rec.' Februarv 15, 7.45 p.m.) London, February 14. ' The "Daily Chronicle" states that Sir William' Robertson -will remain Chietof the General Staff with the full approval and confidence of the Cabinet. General Wilson will continue to act as principal British representative at Versailles'. Sir William Robertson's powers will be modified by certain changes in the Order-in-Council which created the office in 1915.—United Service. MARCEL MIN'S VIEWS Paris, February 14. ' Writing'in tho "Echo dc Paris," M. Marcel Ilutin says' it is possible that the question of the military direction of tiie Allies, which has caused feeling iii the House of Commons, will receive an almost immediate solution satisfactory to everyone. Tho British command in France, the direction of tho Imperial Staff in London, and the British Army's representative at Versailles win remain unchanged, but changes between London and Versailles may bo expected.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. * COLONEL REPINGTON AND THE CENSOR London, February 13. In the House of Commons", Mr. I Hoiiar^Law, replying to questions, said that Colonel Repington's articlo in the 1 "Morning Post" was submitted to the ; censor, who refused- to allow publica- 1 tion. | It was subsequently published 1 in a- different form, without being again ' submitted.— Cablo Assn. ' !