THE CABINET CRISIS

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11752, 7 December 1916, Page 3

THE CABINET CRISIS

' MH. LLOYD GEORGE RESIGNS

■Australia tfc N.Z. Cable Association) (.Received "Wednesday, 8.50 a.m.) LONDON, Tuesday. Mr Lloyd George lias resigned in consequence oi Mr Asquith's intention to continue, as a member of tlie War Council. SITUATION STILL DIFFICULT. „ (Received Wednesday, 10.55 a.m.) LONDON, Tuesday. The latest ne\v s shows that the political situation is still difficult. /Lobby opinion attache's great important'© to Mr Bonar Law's efforts at,icohftl:atron. •The"l>endra] expectation is that Mr Asjijuith will not ■ consent \to be exclude! from tlie War Committee. Mr Lbyd George still desires to lie President of the Committee, remaining at the. War Ministry with the Earl of Derby, as Under-Secretary, performing the actual work of the War Office. The "Daily Chronicle" states that a Ministerial crisis developed yesterday. There is a. persistent rumour that Mr Asquith will resogn to-day. Mr Asquith has not yet abandoned the idea of reconstructing the Government, but the situation is not hopeful. Ma- Lloyd George and Mr Bonar Law eo«jointly submitted proposals for a War Council with executive powers, whereof the Prime Minister was not a member, but over whose elections he had the right of veto. Th n War Council would then consist of Sir. Lloyd George, 'Mr 1 Bonar Law, Si" E. Carson, and Mr A. Henderson. Though Mr Asquith was unable to accept the proposal, lie favours a small War Council, but considers that be should be .Chairman ; otherwise, he is placed in a. humiliating position, and prefers to- resign. Viscount Grey and other Liberal members of tlie Cabinet support Mr -Asquith, \ is Mr Asquith does not accept the proposal or resign, Mv Lloyd George and the. Unioirst members' of the Cabinet will withdraw, as this is the only means of escaping Parliamentary embarrassments. The "Chronicle" adds: A strong effort is being made not to saddle Mr McKenna or Mr Runciman, who desire to conserve the financial a.n.d shipping resources, and are accordingly opposed to new military adventures overseas.

It is generally believed that. Mr Balfour .will shortly leave the Admiralty, and that Sir E. Carson'will possibly';be his successor, ■ '

• -Mr G. N. Barnes (Labour) is lilcely to.'join,£he Cabinet. '•.',' ■■ ' ' The forward.party in the House of Commons strongly supports Mr Lloyd Gtforge, who favours a drastic purge. If- the original proposals are whittled, sbitter disappointment will bo produc3«ViL%d George's influence would be paralysed and the old party ; lines largely obliterated.

•Members, in lobby talk, take it for granted that they could adjust themselves to the new coalition as easily as they did,, to the old one. #Mie Nationalists hold sternly aloof. ;. Labour opinion is generally neutral the proposal that Labour have a larger representation in "tile Government, and be more actiye'Jy 'associated in'the direction of the Hvar."

i Aii'unofficial meeting of Liberals, including Sir J. A. Simon, Mr Birrell and Mr C, E. Hobhouse, attracted About sixty, but. failed to carry a in'otiojp condemning the forces which continually sought the overthrow of the'(Government. THE LIBERAL PARTY. , (Received Wednesday, 11.40 a.m.) 1 . . . LONDON, Tuesday. The; Liberal meeting carried a, general vote, of confidence in Mr Asquith by 43y.t0 S. There were ten abstentions. The meeting conclusively 1 proved that the Simonites who opposed Mr Lloyd George are small in strength. That there -is a Liberal Party crisis is shown by the fact that behind the whole business there is a conflict of personalities. One body of ■Ministers is in favour of concentrating, all'their strength upon the fight-ing-'services, while the others argue we deplete our industries in brdtMj to fill tlie army we deprive ourselvNrfc of the means of financing the -•*V&r.<v" The difficulties of the Asquith Government have increased owing to the miser-able results of the Allied diplomacy in Greece, a-id the deplorable -withdrawal of the P.rili-h and French marines afte- the Greek- attacks. MR. ASQUITH RESIGNS. (Cnbie Extraordinary.\ (Received Wednesday, 1 p.m.) LONDON, Tuesday. Official: Mr Asquith has resigned.