A COMPLICATED SITUATION.

Northern Advocate, 6 December 1916, Page 3

A COMPLICATED SITUATION.

CAPABLE OF ADJUSTMENT.

PREMIER MAY .RESIGN,

(•Press Assn.—Reed. 10.55 p.m.) LONDON, December 5. The latest new 3 shows that the political situation is still difficult. Lobby opinion attaches great importance to Mr Bonar Law's efforts at conciliation. The general expectation is that Mr Asquith will not consent to be excluded from the War Committee. Mr Lloyd .George still desires to be president of the committee, remaining with the War Ministry, Earl Derby, as under-secretary, performing the actual work of the War Office. The "Daily Chronicle" says that the Ministerial crisis developed yesterday. There are persistent rumours that Mr Asquith will resign to-day. Mr Asquith has not yet abandoned the idea of reconstructing the Government, but the situation is not hopeful. Messrs Lloyd George and Bonar Law have conjointly submitted proposals for a War Council with executive powers, and of which the Prime Minister would- not be a member, but ovor whose decision he would have the right to vote. The War Council would then consist of Mr Lloyd George, Mr Bonar Law, Sir E. Carson and Mr A. Henderson. Though Mr Asquith is unable to accept the proposal, he favours a small War Council, but considers that he should be chairman, otherwise he would be placed in a humiliating position and prefers to resign. Sir E. Grey and other Liberal members of the Cabinet support Mr Asquith._ If Mr Asquith does not accept or resign, Mr Lloyd George and the. Unionist members of the Cabinet will withdraw, and the only means-of-escaping Parliamentary embarrassment would be a general election.

The "Chronicle" adds: "A strong effort is being made not to saddle Messsrs McKenna and Runciman, who desire to 'conserve the financial and shipping resources and are accordingly opposed to the new military ad. ventures Overseas. It is generally believed that Mr Balfour will shortly leave the Admiralty and that Sir E. Carson is his possible successor. Mr G. N. Barnes (Labour) is likely to join the Cabinet. The "Forward" party in the Commons strongly supports Mr Lloyd George and favours a drastic purging. If he whittles down his original proposals bitter disappointment will be produced, and Mr Lloyd .George's influence will be paralysed. The old party lines are largely obliterated. According to Lobby discussions the members generally are taking it for granted that they could adjust themselves to a new coalition as easily as they did to the old one. The Nationalists hold sternly'aloof. Labour opinion generally is neutral, but endorses the proposal that labour should have larger representation in the Government and bemore" actively associated in the direction of the war."

A meeting of unofficial Liberals, including Sir John Simon, Mr A.. Birrell and Mr C. E. Hobhouse, attracted about 60 attendants, but failed to carry a motion "condemning the forces which continually sought to overthrow the Government."