MR. ASQUITH'S REPLY.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14642, 21 February 1918, Page 5

MR. ASQUITH'S REPLY.

TRIBUTE TO SIR WILLIAM

ROBERTSON.

MISUNDERSTANDINGS AND DIS-

UNION.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association)

(Received Feb. 20, 10.10 p.m.)

London, Feb. 19

Mr Asquith paid a tribute to Sir William Robertson's great example. He could not help wishing that Mr Lloyd George's speech' had been made a week ago, when the Premier refused to define the functions of the Versailles Council. For asking for this information he (Mr Asquith) was assailed as a pacifist, and even as a 8010 in disguise, such was the fashion of some important and widely-circuiated newspapers row conducted under the auspices of those wro since last week had become the evstodians of propaganda. He understood last week that the changes' at Versailles had the full assent and approval of all the Governments and military advisers. He now knew that this was untrue as regards Sir William Robertson. ,

Mr. Lloyd George interposed: I thought the Government had tlen met all the purely constitutional difficulties and there was nothing else left. It was only afterwards I found that Sir William Robertson regarded the matter differently.

Mr Asquith: Is it not a fact that Sir William Robertson intimated on Monday, the 11th inst., that he could not possibly assent to tte proposal?

Mr Lloyd George: No

Mr Asquith: And is it not a fact that Sir Henry Wilson had already been sent for to succeed him ?

Mr Lloyd George: The proposal was only made on Saturday, when Sir Douglas Haig came over. It surprised me when resistance developed on the ground of policy.

Mi Asquith pointed out that the United States was refraining from political participation, though its military representatives were taking part in the Council. While there were schemes aimed at securing ujaity among the Allies we were sacrificing unity of control in the British Army. This was a question of military efficiency, on which soldiers were better judges than politicians. The Government had now taken the responsibility of disregarding the greatest strategic and technical authorities. There was some disquiet in the public' mind owing to the forced retirement of Lord Jellicoe and Sir William Robertson, preceded by a virulent and unscrupulous press campaign. It was scarcely an adequate compensation that Lord Derby remained at Whitehall and Lord Beaverbrook was entrusted with propa-

ganda