AN INNER CIRCLE.

Northern Advocate, 11 December 1916, Page 3

AN INNER CIRCLE.

PROVIDING THE ,7AR COUNCIL

PROBABLE PERSONNEL,

Australian and N Z Cable Association. (Press Assn - —Rord. 11.5 p.m.) LONDON, December 10. Mr Lloyd George is devising an Inner Cabinet of his principal eoleagues, who alone will be sumomned to every Cabinet council; thus the other members of Cabinet will be departmental chiefs pure and simple. The War Council will consist of four selected from the Inner Cabinet, and the latter will consist of Mr Lloyd George, Mr Bonar Law, Mr Balfour, Lord Mil tier, Earl Derby, Lord Curzoh, Mr Henderson, and .Sir E. Carson. There are indications that with a view to devoting himself almost exclusively to matters pertaining to the conduct of the war, Mr Lloyd George proposes to delegate the leadership of the House of Commons to Mr Bonar Law. lt is inferred that the latter will be outside the War Council and that Lord Milner will attend in his stead. j j Lord Curzon, as Lord President of j the Council, will be free from depart- ■ mental cares and will be able to complete actively the work of the Inner , Cabinet and be leader in the House of Lords. Mr Henderson will be Labour spokesman on the War Council. "Reynold's Newspaper" mentions Mr Hodge as president of: the new Ministry of Labour, taking over all the labour side in the administration oi the Ministry of .Munitions. Mr G. N. Barnes (Labour) is mentioned as Minister of Pensions; Mr G. Cave (Unionist) as Hon. .Secretary; Mr Albert Stanley (Labour) as President of the local Government Board; the lit. Hon. F. E. Smith, K.C. (Unionist) as Attorney-General; Mr J. Gordon (Irish Unionist) as SolicitorGeneral: Mr Herbert Fish (Vice-Chan-cellor of Sheffield University) as President of the Boanl of Education; Sir G. Younger (Unionist) as Chief Secretary for Scotland; Mr 11. E. Duke, X.C, (Unionist) as Chief Secretary for Ireland.

The "Sunday Times" says that Mr Balfour is reconsidering acceptance of the Foreign Office.