PARLIAMENT MOLLIFIED.

Evening Star, Issue 16664, 21 February 1918, Page 6

PARLIAMENT MOLLIFIED.

NORTHCLIFFE INFLUENCE RESENTED. LONDON, February 19. The House of Commons was crowded when Mr Lloyd George made his promised statement regarding General Robertson, The Prime Minister followed his notes closely. The House seemed to generally accept- his vindication of the "Versailles changes. Mr Asquith's opening phrases showed that he had no intention of moving a vote of no confidence. Mr Chamberlain heartly approved of Mr Ll'oyd George's statement, though the rest of the debate was sharply critical, particularly in connection with the Northcliffe and' other newspaper attacks upon Lord Jellicoe and General Robertson. The 'Daily Telegraph's' parliamentary correspondent says that symptoms of a crisis have vanished. The Unionist War Committee met privately, and endorsed the Government's policy. They heartily concurred with Mr Chamberlain's declaration ihat the. Government must sever all

connection' with Press influence, and. must'l themselves govern. Strong representations to this effect have been made to Mr Lloyd George privately by his most ardent Unionist supporters. -Mr Chamberlain said that half of Mr Lloyd George's troubles arose from tho fact that the Government were associated with certain newspaper proprietors, thereby surrounding themselves with suspicion and distrust.