THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1916. THE BRITISH CABINET.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11752, 8 December 1916, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1916. THE BRITISH CABINET.

i\Vhe,a <iit was -.repcirted yesterday that Mr A. Bonar-Law, the former leader of the Unionist tarty, had been summoned by His Majesty the* Kinfe, people regarded the political situation with considerable apprehension. Had Mr Bonar-Law become inline (Minister, an appeal to the ekctcrate would have been almost inevitable. This would have involved a clamant demand for the extension of tiie franchise to women and soldiers, and a crisis would have arisen which quite conceivably would have had disastrous effects upon the Empire. The Irish question, also, would protrude itself in such a manner as tov create perplexing difficulties; Mr Bonar-Law was quick to recognise the seriousness of the position, and he declined to undertake the responsibility of forming a Ministry. The only alternative for His Majesty the King was then to summon Mr Lloyd George, whose magnificent work in connection with the war has gained for him the undivided confidence of the nation. But here again a difficulty arises. .When it was proposed to exclude Mr Asquit: h fr'.m the War Council, the reason advanced was that the Prime Minister lia,d enough to do to attend to the business of the House of Commons. This reason "appeared logical enough, though it did not appeal to Mr Asquith himself. The position now arises, how Mr , Lloyd .iGuorgo A-old the dual . position . of, Minister and pf' tiie' War .Council? . Jt ( is trae.thnt; Mi- Bonai>Law i.s co-oper,ating; with him in the formation of a Muiiistry, but this does not remove the objection that was raised by Mr Lloyd George himself. The necessity for a War Council of small numbers, with unlimited powers, <is generally admitted. ißut the members of that Council must devote the whole of their time and energy to the one object. If Mr Lloyd iGeorge becomes Prime Minister, will he continue to occupy the position of Secretary of War ? If not, who can be found to succeed liim ? If he devotes . the whole of his time to the war, who is going to look after the general politics of the country? The problem appears to be 'surrounded with the gravest difficulties. Nevertheless, the nation may (be confident in the fact that some means will be discovered sf>r overcoming these i difficulties, and that the Empire tfill emerge from the crisis stronger, better, and more determined than ever to see the war through to the fritter end. ~ •