CRISIS IN CABINET.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16673, 19 April 1916, Page 5

CRISIS IN CABINET.

THE- COMPULSION ISSUE

ME. LLOYD GEORGE FIRM

MANY RESIGNATIONS EUMOUBED

THE RUSSIAN FRONT

BOTH SIDES WANT DECISIVE ISSUE

BIG EVENTS LOOMING UP

Prega Association— By Tele<jraph—Copyright

COMPULSION

THE CABINET CRISIS.

MR LLOYD GEORGE FIRM

LONDON, April 18. (Received April 18, at 9.50 p.m.) The Cabinet crisis has reached a critical stage. It did not arrive at a decision satisfactory to Mr Lloyd George, who continues to demand the compulsion of married men.

ARMY COUNCIL'S STAND. LONDON, April 18. (Received April 18, at 9.30 p.m.)The Army Council continues firmly to demand the compulsion of married men, despite the fact that Mr Asquith and the sub-committee of the Cabinet are maintaining that the committee's recommendations are sufficient.

ANXIOUS AND ABORTIVE NEGOTIATIONS. RUMOURS OF RESIGNATIONS. LONDON, April 18. * (Received April 18, at 11.6 p.m.) The Times says that it is impossible to conceal that affairs in the Cabinet have reached a crisis. The very morning that Mr Asquith made the statement that the Government was without an agreed policy, the meeting of the Cabinet was of unusually short duration, but anxious and abortive negotiations were continued until the evening and ended in a deadlock. Meanwhile the lobby was humming with rumours of resignations. When it became clear that the Army Council held a firm attitude, important converts to Mr Lloyd George and Lord Kitchener were mentioned. The Daily Mail says: "There are no resignations at the moment of our going to press, but it is clear that the Cabinet is very unsettled. Victory now depends upon the adoption of compulsion. Most of the Cabinet Ministers are unwilling or unable to face the facts. Mr Asquith should face the problem from the standpoint of our soldiers and seamen, who alone know how many men are wanted to beat the Germans, military necessity giving way to the fetish of unity, which means compromise and impotence." (Received April 18, at 11.25 p.m.) The political crisis developed late yesterday evening when it became known that Mr Lloyd George was heading a small minority of the Cabinet in the opinion that the Army Council's demands could not be met by any scheme short of general compulsion. That prepared press opinion even to the extent of his resignation. Rumours of Mr Lloyd George's threatened resignation were' so frequent that many members of the House of Commons became doubtful, pointing out that Lord Kitchener apparently agreed with the majority of the Cabinet. The crisis became acute when it was declared that Lord Kitchener, the whole of the Army Council, and all of the General Staff had signed a memorandum of the army's requirements. Lord Curzon agrees with Mr Lloyd George that it is necessary to meet the unanimous demand of the military authorities. Mr Asquith, Mr M'Kenna, Mr Runciman, and possibly Mr Balfour, oppose compulsion. The Daily, Mail says that it is believed that General Sir William Robertson, Chief of the Staff, will resign if the Army Council's demands are not met. Mr Bonar Law is inclined to waver, and it is understood that he is now considering his position. The coalition whips were active last night. ■ Apparently, Mr Asquith is preparing to take important action in the House of Commons. Possibly his statement will be postponed. The King gave an audience to Mr Asquith in the evening. Mr Bonar Law's position will largely depend upon the attitude of the Unionist Party. RECRUITING IN CANADA. DEMANDS FOR NATIONAL REGISTRATION. OTTAWA, April 17. .A deputation representing 42 recruiting leagues in the various provinces waited on the Cabinet, urging national registration. They declared that men were not coming forward in sufficient numbers, while there was a high proportion of married men among the recruits, each of whom was costing £8 more per month than the single men, which was not a desirable state of .affairs. Sir Robert Borden, while promising the Cabinet's consideration, declined to commit himself to the abandonment of the voluntary system. He admitted there were loopholes in the voluntary system for economic waste; still, they were procuring the recruits at the required rate of a thousand a day. COMMENT ON THE SITUATION. TRYING NATURE OF THE POSITION. DANGER TO OUR ALLIES. LONDON. April 18. (Received Anrfl 18, at 9.55 p.m.) The Daily Telegraph states that an acute political crisis would throw the country into confusion and spread dismay amontr the Allies. Tt is a sufficient answer to the " compulsionists" that Lord Kitchener remained in the War Office after the Cabinet reiected general compulsion. The Unionist leaders had seen the full facts and fiqures. and had decided that theTe were limits to the raising of soldiers, bevond which Britain could not s;o safely. The Daily Chronicle says that there is a possibility that some of tne Ministers will resign t*-day. Though

the Unionist members of the Cabinet conferred before the meeting, the Cabinet was unable to adjust the difference's. The majority do not believe that a fresh measure for compulsion is yet necessary, but Mr Lloyd George holds this view firmly, and threatens to resign if the Cabinet finally decides against compulsion. On the other hand, Mr Henderson will resign if the Cabinet decides that compulsion is necessary. Mr Lloyd George's attitude is embarrassing the Unionist members of the Cabinet, as v Lord Lansdowne and Mr Chamberlain, who are members of the sub-committee, with Mr Asquith and Mr M'Kenna have decided that it is not necessary to enlist unattested married men. Mr Lloyd George, in view of the council's fiat, has insisted that the report be referred back for fresh consultation with Lord Kitchener and Sir William Robertson. This has brought compulsion to a sharp issue Mr Bonar Law is in a most difficult position. He favours compulsory service, but attaches great importance to the preservation of the coalition, and is now forced to choose between the repudiation of Lord Lansdowne and Mr Chamberlain and meeting the reproaches of Sir E. Carson and the Unionist War Committee. Mr Lloyd George estimates that the compulsion of married men would add 400,000 men to the army, and is the only method of complying with the Army Council's requirements. It is noteworthy that the Manchester Guardian opposes compulsion, but invites some of the most living minds in the Government to pass into Opposition and thus recreate a responsible parliamentary criticism.