LORD OXFORD

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 121, 20 February 1928, Page 9

LORD OXFORD

TRIBUTES OF HOUSE OF

LORDS MOMENTOUS DECISION TO ENTER THE WAR EVENTS OF 1914 RECALLED fir Telecbaph.—press association. Copyright. London, February- 16. In the House of Lords, the Marquess of Salisbury, moving the adjournment, said that Lord Oxford and Asquith stood out above a|l as a man most strongly hating war, with its sorrows and bitterness, yet having the moral courage to choose its arbitrament in the cause of national honour. Lord Haldane said that Lord Asquith was essentially a man of character, having taken a decision without asking whether it would be popular or whether glory were obtainable from it. “I well remember the decision he took to enter the war. Viscount Grey and I myself were with him on the night of August 2, when, immediately, without hesitation, his mind was made up. He did not wish to consult anybody. He simply decided that a situation had arisen in which, much as he hated war, it must be accepted if we were to be saved from war in a further form, which might entail disaster to the nation.” Viscount Grey said that the criticism was often made that Lord Asquith was slow to make decisions, but reluctance to take decisions in nowise implied incapacity. “On the contrary, we members of Jtl'ie Cabinet felt that when a decision was reached nobody would announce it so clearly or defend and maintain it so powerfully. We had a most valuable example of Ins quality in the week preceding war. It was well known in the last week of July the Government was so deeply divided that the parties were apparently- irreconcilable in the House of Commons. The country was also divided. In my opinion, if we had been precipitate in an attempet to force a decision it would not have healed those differences, but would have em phasised them, made them irreparable, and the consequence would have been that in the final crisis we should have confronted the world with a divided Government, a divided Parliament, and a divided country. The fact that this country entered the war practically united was due to that quality of Lord Asquith’s that, while not precipitating' a decision by those differing therefrom, he was content to wait, knowing that in the end the decision come to would be a weighty one.” The Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord Gainford added tributes, and the House adjourned.—A.P.A. and “Sun.” THE LAST RESTING-PLACE THOUSANDS OF MESSAGES OF SYMPATHY (Rec. February 19, 5.5 p.m.) London, February 18. Lady Oxford and Asquith visited the old churchyard at Sutton Courtney and chose the spot where her husband will lie. It is a quiet corner a few yards from the chancel wall, under the shade of a great yew tree. There are clusters of snowdrops growing nearby, while the graves of humble folk surround the last resting place of the great statesman. The funeral on Monday will be attended only by relatives and the closest personal friends. Over four thousand messages of sympathy, including one from Mr. Coates, have been received. FROM MR. BRUCE Rugby, February 17. Mr. Bruce, the Australian Prime Minister, has telegraphed to Mr. Baldwin : “On behalf of the Government and people of Australia I desire to convey deep symathy to the citizens of Great Britain on the death of the Earl of Oxford. Throughout his long life of public service he set a high standard of disinterested statesmanship. His efforts on behalf of the ‘Empire in the Great War will never be forgotten. We mourn him as a great Empire leader whose ideals of unselfish service will serve as an inspiration for many generations.”—British Official Wireless. MR. BALDWIN’S REPLY. London, February 17. Mr. Baldwin, replying to Mr. Bruce, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth: “I desire on behalf of my fellow countrymen to express mv warm thanks for the sympathy of the Government and people of the Commonwealth on the death of the F.arl of Oxford and Asquith. We greatly appreciate your high tribute to his notable services to the Umpire in peace and war.” NEW ZEALAND’S SYMPATHY Tn connection with the death of the Earl of Oxford and Asquith, the Prime Minister (Right Hon. J. G. Coates) has forwarded the following telegram, through His Excellency the GovernorGeneral :— ‘The Government and people of New Zealand have learned with dee]) regret of the death of the Karl of Oxford and Asquith. The Prime Minister has asked me to sav that he will be glad if, on behalf of H.M. Government in Great Britain, you will accept and convey to the bereaved relatives our sincere sympathy. The late statesman’s illustrious services to his King and country will ever be held in grateful memory.”