MR. ASQUITH REPLIES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 215, 5 June 1919, Page 5

MR. ASQUITH REPLIES

LORD FRENCH SHARPLY "CRITICISED (Ree. June 1, 7.10 p.m.). London, .Tune 3. 'Mr. Asquith, speaking at a complimentary luncheon, replied io stalwnunls in Lord French's book. Mr. Asquith complained that lord French had been' given access to official and confidential documents to build up a. case against men whose lips were closed, some by death, others by official restraint. It was a flagrant breach of the best tradition* of the Public Service. Jione knew boiler than Lord French that his charge against the liberal Government, of callousness in 'failing to supply sufficient guns and shells, was without foundation. Documents which would be published, shortly would prove that Lord French's' account of Lord Kitchener's visit to Paris in September, 191J,. was a travesty on the real facts. Prior to the dispatch of Lord Kitchener to Paris, Lord French's ' intended movements had filled Cabinet with consternation, and the Parisian Government feared that the French Army was Joing to be left in tho lurch. Continuing, he dally denied , Lord French's assertion that he had advocated high explosives inste-ad of shrapnel before the war.- iUr. Asquith quotrcl from a document showing that Headquarters had asked the Government in November, 1911, to reduce the pereen'«»ge of high explosives from 50 (o 25 per cent. He also quoted Lord Kitchener's letter, written on the ever of the fnmous Newcastle speech, in which he said that Lord French had told liini that with the present supply of ammunition he would have as much as tho troops were able to use for tho next attack. Mr. Asquith accepted the full responsibility for Lord French's recall, which had no more to do with shells than with the celipse of 'the moon.—Aus.-If.Z, Cable Assn.