RECRUITING PROBLEM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16675, 22 April 1916, Page 7

RECRUITING PROBLEM

c THE CABINET CRISIS. J PRIME MINISTER'S < ATTITUDE. i (Times and Sydney Sun Services.) LONDON, April 19. The Daily Mail states that Ministerialists in the lobby said that Mr Asquith declared that if there were Cabinet resignations he would continue in office with the remains of the Liberal and Labour support. If necessary, he would appeal to the country. The members of the General Staff, notably Sir William Robertson, are extremely dissatisfied. It is believed that if the War Committee's proposals had not given the required numbers of mon it was understood by the members of the Cabinet and others concerned that some of these military leaders had intimated that they would be obliged to consider their position unless they were satisfied. MR LLOYD GEORGE HAS A MAJORITY. LABOUR MEMBER'S ENTHUSIASM. LONDON, April 20. (Received April 21, at 5.5 p.m.) The Cabinet sat for three horns, and there were numerous consultations and meetings of groups, throughout the day. , The Compromise Committee's scheme was apparently a failure, owing to the dissatisfaction of the compulsionists. Mr Lloyd George seems to have gained a majority of the Cabinet, including Lord Kitchener,, to his view. There was a general agreement late this evening that compulsion is inevitable. Even Mr Henderson is prepared to accept the principle of compulsion. Lieutenant-colonel John Ward (M.P. for Stoke-on-Trent) is indignant at the accusa tion that the Labour members oppose compulsion. Ho told his colleagues that he is prepared to go to the country and lead a new Labour Party really representing the workers. One hundred Liberal members of the House of Commons, including Sir J. A. Simon, met and resolved that Mr Asquith should continue to hold the Premiership as a matter of national necessity. A PROPOSAL AGREED TO. SECRET SESSION ON TUESDAY. LONDON, April 20. (Received April 21, at 5.5 p.m.) The Press Bureau states that the Cabinet has agreed to a recruiting proposal which will be submitted to a secret session of Parliament on Tuesday. MORE TliyiE GRANTED. . HOUSE ADJOURNS TILL TUESDAY. LONDON, April 19. In the House of Mr Asquith said he regretted to say that there were material points of disagreement in the Cabinet, and these, if not settled by agreement, must result in the break-up of the Government.—(Hear hear, and cries of disapproval.) Mr Asquith, continuing, said that the Cabinet was united in believing that such an event would be a national disaster of the most formidable kind, but he hoped it would be averted by a few more days' deliberation. He moved an adjournment till Tuesday. Sir E. Carson said that, while regretting the delay of Mr Asquith's statement on recruiting, he would be the last to suggest that time should not be given to enable an agreement to be reached. HOUSE OF LORDS. LORD MILNER'S MOTION. LONDON, April 19. In the House of Lords, the. Marquis of Crewe moved the adjournment of the debate on Lord Milner's motion to apply compulsion immediately. Lord Milner declined to accept an adjournment. Lord Lansdowne regretted his refusal, sayifig there were serious differences of opinion within the Cabinet in regard to j redruiting—differences so grave that they threatened to break up the Cabinet, which would be a grave national disaster. He was convinced that members of the Government would gladly step aside if it could be shown there were others competent to take their places and do their work. He denied that members of the Cabinet could not make up their minds. It was because their oonvictions were deep-rooted and they were unable for the moment to find a middle course of escape from the difficulty of the situation. They asked for a few days' grace to enable them to meet Parliament with a united front and a policy which the whole Cabinet approved. Lord Derby said he was prepared to vote on Lord Milner's motion, but he supported an adjournment. The House of Lords then adjourned till Tuesday. THE GENERAL IMPRESSION. RECONSTRUCTION OF THE GOVERNMENT. LABOUR PARTY'S WISHES. LONDON, April 19. There was a three hours' meeting of the Cabinet before the House met. Mr Lloyd George and Mr A. Bonar Law held a lengthy consultation at the Colonial Office. The House of Commons was crowded. At Mr Asquith's request a further postponement was made. Thi3 created a sensation. Animated groups in the lobbies discussed the dramatic development. There were many rumours concerning. Mr Lloyd George's attitude at the Cabinet meeting. He did not attend in the House of Commons. Most of the members of the House scout the idea of an election. The general impression is that a reconstruction of the Government will result, the House agreeing to adjourn till Tuesday. Lobby opinion is that a more hopeful compromise will be found to save the coalition. The Labour Party decided to ask the Government that, if it was not -willing to accede to its request for a secret session for the discussion of recruiting, the Government should place the Labour members in possession of the essential facts. RIVAL VIEWS. MR LLOYD GEOBiGE AND MR HENDERSON. ' TO MEET THE EMERGENCY. LONDON, April 20. Mr Henderson proposed that the Cabinet should reopen the voluntary recruiting system for six weeks and allow unattested married men to join the. army as volunteers. In the event of the result being disappointing, the Cabinet could decide unanimously that compulsion was abso- , lutely necessary, and Mr Henderson would . endeavour to reconcile organised labour to i a further dose of compulsion. ' . Mr Lloyd George and some of the [ Unionist members of the Cabinet, how- ■ ever, want a General Compulsion Bill introduced immediately. This would remove recruiting from the area of contro-

versy. If the yield of men falls below 50,000 per month, which the Army Council declares is the margin of safety, then the compulsory powers of the Act would become operative by a resolution in tho House of Commons. Mr Lloyd George desires to provide for the emergency now, Mr Henderson to meet the emergency when it arises. CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS. A DIFFICULT MATTER. ! (Times and Sydney Sun Services.) LONDON, April 19. Mr H. J. Tennant (Under-socretary for War) stated that the position of conscientious objectors was difficult. The Government had done its best to meet it, the tribunals dealing with such cases fairly. TERMS OF THE SETTLEMENT. DERBY SCHEME TO BE REOPENED. FRESH RECRUITING CAMPAIGN. LONDON, April 20. (Received April 21, at 11.50 p.m.) The effect of the dissension upon our enemies was a vital factor in influencing the compromise. Tho terms of settlement include the reoommendations of the first committee of the Cabihet upon recruiting—namely, the compulsion of unmarried men 18 years of a,ge, and the re-enlistment of time-expired service men. The threat of the resignations of Mr Lloyd George and Mr A. Bonar Law was still a stumbling block when the Cabinet this morning faced the crisis, and it was expected that many—perhaps all —of the Unionist Ministers would likewise resign, involving a break-up of the coalition. An earnest discussion resulted. Mr Lloyd George no longer insisted upon immediate general compulsion, but accepted the plan of the majority to reopen the Derby scheme, allowing probably six weeks for the further .voluntary enlistment of married men. Another recruiting campaign is being opened, in which the Labour Party has promised its co-operation. CRUX OF THE SETTLEMENT. THE SECRET SESSION. HOW IT IS VIEWED. LONDON, April 20. (Received April 21, at 11.50 p.m.) The crux of the settlement i 3 that unless a secretly specified number of men enlist by a certain time general compulsion will immediately follow. The secret session is an innovation which in parliamentary procedure has not been contemplated since the House of Commons was made open to the press in 1835. Although it is regarded in some quarters as a dangerous precedent, it is generally popular. The members of the House of Commons appreciate the gravity of the situation and the importance of not. disclosing military facts to the enemy. It is not likely that there will be any large body of opposition. Many police will guard Westminster, not permitting strangers to enter. , The precincts of all the galleries will be locked. LABOUR LEADER SPEAKS. LONDON, April 20. (Received April 21, at 11.50 p.m.) Mr Hodge, the Labour leader, says: " If compulsion is necessary I agree, and the sooner the better. I douibt of the success of a fresh recruiting campaign."