LONDON NEWS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue LXXIV, 11 May 1918, Page 5

LONDON NEWS.

THE MAURICE LETTER.

SEQUEL IN PARLIAMENT

MR ASQUITH'S MOTION FOR SELECT COMMITTEE,.

NOT A MOTION OF CENSURE.

COMPLICITY. IN PUBLICATION OF

LETTER DENIED

THE PRIME MINISTER'S REPLY

ALLEGATIONS CATEGORICALLY

DENIED

AN APPEAL FOR UNITY

ENEMY PREPARING HTS BIGGEST

BLOW.

LONDON, May 9

Mr Asquith, on rising, disclaimed any intention ,to embarrass tne Government. There had been much misconception regarding his motion for a select committee. He was strongly of opinion it was not Parliament's business in war time to constantly be inquiring into the conduct of successive phases of the war; still less to be occupying time in investigating the truth or falsehood of ill-informed persons' statements. His motion had been adversely described as a vote of censure. He had no such intention. Mr Asquith wa s warmlyapplauded on remarking that since he left office he had done his utmost to assist the Government without withholding legitimate and helpful criticism. Uncharitable people suspected him of wanting to return to power. If he wanted the House to censure the Government he would do so directly and unequivocally If tne Government had a good case they mT e^ge with enhanced authority When he gave notice of motion he thought the Government would accept

Mr Asquith proceeding to deal with General Maurice's letter, said it was a unique incident in the history of the war General Maurice was a distinguished soldier, who explicitly impugned the accuracy of Ministers' statements, though; aware of the serious breach of regulations, thus jeopardising his future. *wri. As< 3u l ith denied the allegations tftat ne or his colleagues were privy to the publication of the letter The Government on Tuesday admitted an inquiry ought to be made, but n*ust »? secret. He asked if the Government still believed documents could net be : disclosed to a select committee of the .: House of Commons. He assumed 'the Ixovernment desired an inquiry The only question was, what Kind? Mr Asquith still regarded two irde;es as an impotent tribunal, unless" specially empowered by statute. A small House of Commons committee of five! would be proper, more authoritative and would command the c rantry's respect. Mr Asquith asked : What is the alternative? Interjection: Get on with the war! (Cheers). . ■ j Mr Asquith replied uhat misconceptions must be cleared first. Any Ministerial statement would be merely ex parte. / M?r Bonar Law remarked that he could not find an unprejudiced select committee. Mr Asquith, amid loud cheers deprecated this aspersion on the traditions of the House, and concluded by saying • "I teave it there." Mr Lloyd George followed, and declared that the demand for a select committee was without parallel. Never before had the House of Commons been asked to inquire into the truth or falsity of a Minister's statements. General Maurice had access to all official information while in office and was the authority for the figures. General Maurice also had access to Ministers and attended Cabinet the day after Mr Lloyd George delivered his speech. He did not call attention to the inaccuracy of any statement, though he wa s daily m contact with Mr Lloyd George. ' Mr Lloyd George, continuing, said it the importance of the figures justified General Maurice in breaking the King's regulations, General Maurice's duty was to inform the Cabient at the time.

Mr Lloyd George said he would give his sources of information, and a6k the House to give judgment to-day. The Government wa s anxious to submit $h e j matter to an impartial tribunal. Secrecy was essential, because the interests of a certain Ally were involved. A judicial tribunal was preferable, because passions had been aroused. It was. evident from the behaviour of the anti-Government press that no decision of any tribunal would be accepted. The Government had decided to give the facts and let the public judge. Mr Lloyd George said the official records confirmed his statement that the fighting strength of the British ! army in January, 1918, exceeded that ot January, 1917. His figures thereon had been given Mm by General Maurice's department, initialled by General Maurice's deputy. The figures regarding the Allied superiority on the V\est front over the enemy came from General Maurice.. The statements regarding the British strength were submitted to General Maurice before he made them public. General Maurice informed the Cabinet Secretary that he had no remarks to make thereon. The extension of General Gough's front was not discussed at the Versailles Council, but there was a demand for a. further extension. The former extension to which General Maurice alluded was caa-ried out before the council met. Sir Douglas Haig and General Petain had agreedj thereon. Not a yard of the front was taken over as a result of the Versailles conference. The real point is:" Was General Gough's front extendecTagaihst Generals Robertson's and Haig's objections? There was no word of truth in the allegation. Neither Sir Douglas Haig nor Cabinet desired it, but the pressure from' the French army was enormous. He did not suggest that the French acted unfairly. There has been some ferment in France regarding the •relative lengths oJ the French and British lines. General Robertson drew up a minute, stating that the extension ought to be accepted in principle, but the Command* > -in-Chief was to select the date. C;>Mii.-t adopted the minute. M. Clemenco;: v ];;ter suggested that the Versailles Council should examine the question. Cabinet only siiggesterl that the gm-erni staff should prepare a case for the Versailles military repre^ sentative-s, ami a compromise for discussion. Sir Dougl^, ?i>>ig and General Petair agreed on th't- <■:•: v-nsion. At one time Sir DoukW- '■!;>;•.: Relieved the extension had h-.■.■•■■ (!':■■<■■:ded on before h< agreed, hui sh- mi otter was soon ex> plained. T::m! •'■ -• the sole basis fo

many of the rumors which had been afloat. Cabinet fully approved of Sir Douglas Haig's decision to extend the line.

If the motion were carried, Sir Asquith would again be responsible for conducting the war. The Premier then proceeded to censure General Maurice's breach of discipline. Mr Lloyd George said he had to-day received protests from Australian soldiers against General Maurice's evil example. He concluded by declaring that thee© controversies were distracting and paralysing. "The Germans," he said, "are now silently preparing for the biggest blow of the war. Their action is shrouded in mystery. Our fate in the next few weeks will be in the balance."

He appealed to the House to set an example to the country in presenting a united front to the enemy.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.