MR. ASQUITH'S COMMENT

Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 45, 21 February 1918, Page 7

MR. ASQUITH'S COMMENT

SOME INTERROGATIONS AND REPLIES

(AUSTRALIAN-NEW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION.)

■ _ LONDON, 19th February." Mr. Asquith paid a tribute to Sir William Robertson's great example. He could not help wishing that Mr. Lloyd George's speech had been made a week ago, when the Premier refused to define the functions of the Versailles Council. "For asking for this information," said Mr. Asquith, "I was assailed as a pacifist, even a '8010 in disguise. Such is the fashion some imiportant and -widely-circulated newspapers are now conducted under the auspices of those who since last week have become the custodians of our propaganda. I understood last week that the changes at Versailles had the full assent and approval of all the Government's military advisers. I now know that this was not true as regards Sir' William Robertson." Mr. Lloyd George interposed : I thought the. Government had then met all the purely constitutional difficulties, and that there was nothing else left. . Only afterwards I found that Sir William Robertson regarded the matter differently. > Mr. Asquith: Is.it not a fact that Sir William Robertson intimated on 'Monday, 11th February, that' he could not possibly assent to the proposal ?. Mr. Lloyd George : No. Mr. Asquith continued : And is it not a fact that Sir Henry Wilson had already been sent for to succeed him 1 Mr. Lloyd George : The proposal was only made on Saturday, when. Sir Douglas Haig came over. It surprised me when resistance developed on theground of policy. Mr. Asquith pointed out that the United States was refraining from political participation, though her military representatives were taking part in the Council. While the scheme aimed at securing unity of control among the Allies, we were near to sacrificing unity of control in the British Army. This was a question of military efficiency on which the soldiers were better judges than the politicians. The Government had now taken the responsibility of disregarding the greatest strategic and technical authorities. There was some disquiet in the public mind owing to the forced retirement of Lord Jellicoe. Sir William Robertson's resignation was preceded by a virulent and unscrupulous press campaign. It was scarcely adequate compensation that Lord Derby will remain at the War Office and Lord Beaverbrook is entrusted with propaganda. A similar debate took place in. the House of Lords, when Viscount Curaon said that Sir Douglas. Haig was still in full control of his own troops. The difference was that the Supreme War Council would have certain troops at its disposal which it could add to Haig's or send elsewhere, according to the heeds of the moment. .. „„,.„„,.,. „„,, , LONDON, 20th February. The House of Commons was crowded to hear Mr. Lloyd George's statement on the Versailles Council and the Robertson incident. The Prime Minister followed his notes closely. The House generally seemed to accept his vindication of the Versailles changes. Mr. Asquith's opening phrases showed no intention of moving a vote of no-confidence. Mr. Austen Chamberlain heartily approved of Mr. Lloyd George's statement, though the rest of the debate was sharply critical, particularly in connection with the Northolitte and other newspaper attacks on Lord Jellicoe and Sir William Robertson.. LORD DERBY'S ATTITUDE (Received February 21, 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, 19th February. Speaking in the House of Lords, Lord Derby strongly supported the_ Versailles Conference, which had already achieved excellent results. He said he had done his utmost to induce Sir William Robertson to accept the Versailles scheme, and had tendered his own resignation, but Mr. Lloyd George had asked him to remain. ' ■ •