LLOYD GEORGE CHOOSES INNER CABINET.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 885, 11 December 1916, Page 7

LLOYD GEORGE CHOOSES INNER CABINET.

WAR COUNCIL OF FOUR TO BE FORMED. LIBERALS WILL SUPPORT THE NEW GOVERNMENT. Australian and N.Z. Valid Association. (Received December 11. 11.15 a.m.) LONDON, December 10. Mr Lloyd George is devising an Inner Cabinet, consisting of his principal colleagues, who alone will be summoned to every Cabinet Council. Thus the other members of Cabinet will be departmental chiefs pure and simple. A War Council of four will be selected from the Inner Cabinet. The latter will consist of Mr Lloyd George, Mr Bonar Law, Mr A. J. Balfour, Lord Milner, Lord Derby, Lord Curzon, Mr Arthur Henderson, and Sir Edward 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. It is inferred that the latter will be outside the War Council, and that Lord Milner will attend in his stead. Lord Curzon, as Lord President of the Council, will be free of departmental cares, and will be able to take an active part in the work of the Inner Cabinet. He will be Leader of the House of Lords. Mr Arthur Henderson will be the Labour spokesman in the War Council. *'Reynolds's Newspaper" mentions that Mr J. Hodge, as President of the new Ministry of Labour, will take over all the Labour side of the administration of the Ministry of Munitions. Other probable appointments mentioned are:— Mr G. N. Barnes (Labour), Minister of Pensions. Mr G. Cave (Unionist), Home Secretary. Mr Albert Stanley (Labour), President of the Local Government Board. Sir Frederick E. Smith (Unionist), Attorney-General. Mr Gordon Stewart (Unionist), Solicitor-General. Mr Herbert Fish (Vice-Chancellor of the Sheffield University, who is not at present in Parliament), President of the Board of Education. Sir George Younger, Bart. (Unionist), Chief Secretary for Scotland. Mr 11. E. Duke (Unionist), Chief Secretary for Ireland. The ''Sunday Times" states that Mr Balfour is reconsidering the acceptance of the Foreign Office. The "News of the World" says that Mr Lloyd George proposes the State enrolment of all citizens for war work, with fitting exemptions. The Executive Committee of the London Liberal Federation carried a resolution thanhing Mr Asquith for his magnificent services to the nation, and expressing unabated confidence in his leadership of the party; also its determination to support the Government Executive in the prosecution of the war. The Midland Liberal Federation, representing 10 counties, is gratified at Mr Asquith ? s continuing in the leadership of the Party, and earned a resolution to support the Government to carry the war to a sucees- J ';il issue.