MR ASQUITH EXPLAINS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 885, 11 December 1916, Page 8

MR ASQUITH EXPLAINS.

ADVISES SUPPORT OF NEW GOVERNMENT.

Renter's Telegrams. LONDON, December 8. In speaking at the Liberal meeting, Mr Asquith said that there had been a carefully engineered campaign against Viscount Grey ami himself, bni he acquitted any member of the Government of complicity therein, lie received Mr Lloyd George's proposal of a smaller War Council on December 1, and replied the same day that «lhc Premier must preside over such a body. Mr Lloyd George disagreed, and on December 3 the Unionist Ministers intimated that unless Mr Asquith resigned they would resign. Mr Asquith appealed to Mr Bonar Law to remain, and wrote to Mr Lloyd George on December 4 that he was not prepared to remain in the Cabinet as a spectator, and outlined certain proposals, which Mr Lloyd George accepted, subject lo the character and personnel of the War Council. Mr Asquith consulted his friends, and fell that the differences regarding the Premier presiding over (he War Council and the personnel of the Council were irreconcilable, ami so resigned. He declined to join the new Government because he felt that he would be a source of weakness, as the attacks upon him would continue, and it would be better if he gave independent support outside.

In a masterly peroration Mr Asquith advised them all to avoid recriminations. Personally he would give each and all credit for the best motives, and, above all, do all he could to facilitate the task which had fallen into other hands.

THE NEGOTIATIONS. LINES OF CLEAVAGE. Australian and N.Z. Cable Assoc- ntion. LONDON, December 8. An official report amplifies the negotiations between Mr. Asquith and Mr Lloyd George. On Sunday they tried to accommodate their views, which differed on two points. The first was in relation to the Prime Minister being on the War Committee and the second hinged on the War Committee's personnel. Mr Lloyd George wanted to exclude some and include others, and there was a strong and sharp difference of opinion between them upon this point. There were various suggestions endeavouring to solve the first question, but they did not attempt to solve the second. Finally the following arrangement was suggested: The Prime Minister to have supreme and effective control over the war policy, the War Committee's agenda submitted to him and the chairman to report to him daily, the Prime Minister to be able to direct the War Committee to consider particular topics and proposals, all its conclusions to be subject to his approval and veto, and he to attend the meetings at his own discretion.

No agreement with Mr Lloyd George was reached on Sunday, and the matter was left over for consideration. Mr Asquith undertook to give Mr Lloyd George a written communication on Monday, hut the newspapers on Monday morning published the proposal to exclude him from the committee. Mr Lloyd George assured him that he had no responsibility in connection with the publication, and he accepted this assurance, but the fad remained that the thing became known. He wrote immediately to Mr Lloyd George that unless the impression was corrected that he had been relegated to the position of an irresponsible spectator of the war, he could not go on. Mr Lloyd George accepted, and suggested an arrangement. Mr Asquith then consulted his colleagues and informed Mr Lloyd George that the War Committee could not possibly be workable and effective unless the Prime Minister was chairman, v

Mr Lloyd George himself disagreed with this. If the committee was reconstructed on a smaller basis Mr Asquith considered that he himself must choose its members.

MR LLOYD GEORGE PLEASED.

LIBERAL PARTY SOLID,

Australian and N.Z. Cahl* Association.

LONDON, December 9,

Mr Lloyd George, interviewed, said he was gratified at the result of the Liberals' meeting. It would strengthen the country in the great task it had undertaken. He did not intend replying to the personal questions raised in Mr Asquith's speech.

A LEAP IN THE DARK. TRENCHANT CRITICISM. Australian and N.Z. Ca%e Association. LONDON, December 8. The "Nation" describes Mr Lloyd George's advancement as a leap in Ihe (lark. Last week he proposed to divide the Coalition Cabinet into two parts. The first and unimportant part would consist of the Prime Minister and his colleagues, while the second and vital part would consist of himself and three inconspicuous civil associates, and would be charged with the sole direction of governing. The nominal veto which the Prime Minister was to have would have gone the way of all vetoes. It would have been used to iix Mr Lloyd George's primacy, and place his bile chief at the mercy of the war directorate. The demand on Mr Asquilh was not only to depose himself, hut to serve, shorn and blinded, in the temple of his real successor. "The hand which made the coalition has struck it down, and now aspires to run its successor with such help as if can command from its relics ar,d from the tremendous straddle between Tory Imperialism and Labour, and from the Parliamentary snipers to whom he has long been Signaller-iii-Chief. Mr Lloyd George has not beaten the Germans, but has destroyed two British Governments, and some of the liberties of the British people. His bustling vigour and adroitness have impressed themselves on the popular mind in contrast with Lord Northcliffe's hourly presentations of his colleagues as a mass of senility and incompetence. This falsity, with its quantum of truth, now Stands for trial."