LORD DERBY SPEAKS

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11752, 8 December 1916, Page 5

LORD DERBY SPEAKS

THE SITUATiON REVIEWED. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association ((Received Last Night, 7.5 o'clock.) LONDON, Dec. 6th. Lord Derby, m a notable speech at thd Aldwich Omb, threw swtic light upon leading up to the cnsis. After repudiating the charges ox disldyaltyj, and intrigue, he said It became Sppartent, especially , in regard to the man-power question, that the Government lacked a serious grip of the position.

A small War Committee was re-1 quired, to decide quickly, with power to compel the Departments concerned to carry out its decisions. (Unless the proposal was realised quickly, there was 'a danger of the Army, Navy, and General Staff's plans failing next year. •When Mr Lloyd George asked Lord Derby to join liuit in submitting the proposal. to Mr Asqiiith, Lord Derby felt 'justified in consenting. The War Committee was intended to consider all vital war questions, and was really the constitution of a War Cabinet, charged wutli the duty of carefully considering all schemes, looking ahead ®s far as was Ihumlily possible, adopting a fixed policy, and seeing it through. The question of the composition of the Committee nest arose. The idea was to have few men, and also that the Prime 'Minister, whose duties Were so great that he could not al-ways-preside, should .not- be required to attend all meetings. The committee was ■to sit all day, and every day if necessary. Therefore it was desirable to delegate the chau'air.irs functions to someone else. /. {There.-was only one man whom *ihl-. «>;Y,;itry could c>«f,il,y.e< Chairman, and the Premier was to bo given the power to veto any cf the Committee's proposals. Lord Derby added that he still thought a change was possible w:th*out overthrowing/t!ie (lovtrnnient. But this most 'difficult .part cf the reconstruction was 'the selection ol members of the War Committees. Much of the difficulty was duo to people suggesting names. He supported Mr Lloyd George, because he wanted a thoroughly efficient War Committee. He deeply regretted the. present bu£ 'there could .-not be a compromise 'on the whole-hearted prosecution of the war. After an appreciative reference to Mr Asqui'th, Lord Derby said: ''We must show our enem.'.es that they will not grit satisfaction out of this crisis." Ho concluded: "A Government of one party is unthinkable. The country needs the best brains."