NOTES FROM LONDON.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144815, 20 October 1915, Page 3

NOTES FROM LONDON.

THE BRITISH CABINET. SIR E. CARSON RESIGNS. VARIED PRESS COMMENTS. , DT ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. —COPYRIGHT. LONDON, Oct. 18.. Sir Edward Carson, Attorney-General,, has resigned. There is considerable interest in the political situation in view of the questions regarding the Balkans and conscription. Sir E. Carson has been absent from four Cabinet meetings. Lord Kitchener visited Mr. Asquith on Monday, when there was a full meeting of the Cabinet. The Westminster Gazette says that Sir E. Carson holds strong opinions on an important aspect of the military policy, and informed his colleagues that unless his views prevailed he would withdraw iirom the Government. . All newspapers, except the Daily News, regret bir E. Carson’s resignation and pay tribute to his force of character, dogged honesty, and determination.

His resignation was duo to a difference regarding the Balkan policy, not conscription. The Morning Post states that despite Sir E. Carson’s urgent counsel the Government allowed tho question to drift. “We trust,” says the paper, “that now Sir Edward Carson will resume his freedom and will force tho Government to see the dangers they are bringing upon the country by refusing to look plain *®?ts *n the face. If Sir Edward Carson leads he will have the following of all newspapers of prominence/* ° The Manchester Guardian has an outspoken leader, demanding a frank statement of the measures required to enable the country to fulfil its national obligations. It says there are a good many indications that the Government has no , defined view on this subject, and, if so, , an undecided Government must of necessity be a weak Government. . P News say that conscriptionists believe that a Ministerial crisis will result # in a Conscriptionist Ministry Conscnptionists believe that it is only necessary to get a Pride’s Purge for the present Government and reconstruct it on Curzon - Churchill - Miner This would be fatally wrong, for ' such « Ministry would rouse the country to bitter resentment. The nation is prepared for any sacrifice but it looks wrth profound alarm and indignation on those who are making its perils the sport of their personal ambitions. The Globe states that well-founded rumours show that the Cabinet is divided. Sir Edward Grey’s refusal to allow Parliament to debate tho foreign policy and the Government’s failure to say whether they will hold on or abandon the Dardanelles, and whether Serbia is to be a victim of another “Antwerp expedition, ’ is -sowing mistrust in the mind or the nation. Other events, the paper points out, are the inception and conduct of operations at the Dardanelles, and the diplomatic failure at Soda, which are appropriate matters for strict inquiry, but no good purpose will be served by wrangling. Parliament at present has no time for words, but only for resolute decisive action. ~ Tli ,? Parliamentary correspondent of the Daily Telegraph- says that the nresent week promises to be of exceptional importance. The notice paper bristles i with questions relating to tho war, and reveals a critical attitude towards Ministers. The Government will bo asked for facilities of debate, and to appoint a select committee to inquire into the Dardanelles campaign. Other questions include whether the Cabinet as a whole sanctioned the naval attack at the Dardanelles, and whether in view of the interest of Australia and Now Zealand Mr. Asquith will make a statement at an early period. It is considered improbable that Mr. Asquith will agree to a general debate. Mr. John Redmond, at a meeting of the Nationalist Convention at Dublin, said the existence of the Coalition Government was precarious and was threatened by external and internal dangers. A rich and powerful conspiracy was menacing its very existence, and this made up of men who aro ready to sacrifice national unity in the face of tho enemy in order to further their own predilections and theories. “Any day,” said Mr. Redmond, “wo may bo faced with reconstruction, or proposals which will instantly end the political truce and rend the British people into contending factions. It is common talk in political circles in England to-day that a general election of the fiercest contention may arise. Happily. Ireland will not be in any degree iesgonMb.i«.”

THE CONSCRIPTION BATTLE. A WARNING TO ZEALOTS. LONDON'. Oet. 19, The Daily Chronicle says that unless the compulsion zealots restrain thornsolves they will jeopardise the existence of the Government and destroy the unity of the nation. The attempt to rush a decision on conscription until Lord Derby’s plan has been fairly and honestly tried is inimical to tho best interests of the nation. The only way the nation can bo induced to acquiesce in compulsory service is the assurance of sympathisers witli voluntary principles like Mr. Asquith. Lord Kitchener, Sir E. Qroy and Mr. Balfour that voluntaryism will not give the men needed. VARYING VIEWS ON REPRISALS. LONDON, Oct. 18. Lord Bryce, in a letter, protests against the public demands for antiZcppolin reprisals for dropping bombs on civilians. Britain.still demands the ;especting of* tho Hague Convention, and to initiate savagery will lower us to the lcvel of the Gormans. Sir A. Conan Doyle says: “We are justified in laying certain towns in Germany in ruins, m order to compel the cessation of Zeppelin attacks.”

BRITISH PRISONERS IN GERMANY (Received Oct. 20, 12.5 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 19. Mr. Tennant, in the House of Commons, stated that there were approxi.Rutcly 25,000 British prisoners m Germany in September. CONSCRIPTIONISTS’ DEMANDS. LONDON, Oct. 18. General Eric Swayne, speaking at a meeting at Hull, said that Britain needed throe million more men before the spring. He estimated that Germany has still between nine and ten million men, of ages ranging from 18 to 45. It was useless to talk about wearing out Germany, but if Britain raised an additional three million men the German numbers would be counterbalanced, and the enemy would recognise that it would he fruitless to continue the war. Britain did not want; conscription, but unless the three million men were recruited by next spring the military authorities could not ho held responsible for the result. [Britain has a population of 47 million and Germany of 67' million, so the attempt to rival the number of the German army is obviously" futile.] NOTES BY A NEUTRAL. ON GERMANY AND AUSTRIA. TIMES AND SYDNEY SUN SERVICES. (Received Oct. 20, 8.0 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 10. A trustworthy neutral describes Vienna as very gay. Tho obsession of victory has succeeded the agonies of depression. The Austrians are absolutely confident and rely on Germany. They dislike the Germans more than ever and complain that Austro-Hungary does all the work and Germany gets all the praise. Berlin is openly exultant at tho hotter news. Germany is concentrated on finishing the war. Conferences of bankers, manufacturers and agriculturists aro preparing n post-bellum organisation so that whether the war ends in one, two or ten years Germany can instantly commence to recover her commerce. Berliners believe that England is terrified and that London is partly ruined by Zeppelins. The Government cleverly spreads whispers that British Ministers have made approaches for peace. There are shortages of indiarubbor, wool garments, and Havana cigars. Germany is obviously importing supplies through neutrals. An Amsterdam correspondent says that th'o Dutch banks contributed 162 millions sterling to the last Gorman war loan. The Grand Duke of Baden quietened the Duchy of Baden last week by announcing that the war would soon b© over and that there would be no winter campaign. ANOTHER SPY SHOT. (Received Oct. 20, 1 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 19. The Secretary of War announces that two prisoners, charged with espionage, ■were court-martialled in London on September 28-30. They were found guilty. One received the death sentence, which was carried out this morning, and the other was sentenced to penal servitude for five years.