British Politics.

Waikato Independent, Volume XVIII, Issue 1402, 22 January 1914, Page 5

British Politics.

RUMOURS OF A CRISIS,

CHANCELLOR AND FIRST

LORD

By Cable—Press Association—Copyright London, January 20. The Daily Telegraph” states that a grave crisis is pending in the Cabinet on the question of the British naval policy, which will be discussed on' Thursday. The paper declares that the majority of the Ministers agree with Mr Lloyd George (Chancellor of the Exchequer) in opposing the Estimates of Mr Churchill (First Lord of the Admirality). The relations of the Chancellor with Mr Churchill are so strained that the resignation of one or the other is regarded as possible. If Mr Churchill is defeated, the whole Admiralty Board threatens to resign. Later. , Mr Winston Churchill announces that the newspaper statements concerning the Cabinet are based merely oq surmise and gossip, and should be uniformly distrusted. He denies that; the Board of Admiralty has expressed any intention of resigning.

Beceived 9 a.m. London, Jan. 21 A keen controversy is going on regarding to-morrow’s Cabinet meeting. It is expected that Mr Asquith will decide in Mr Churchills favour as the key of the problem in relation to the Dominion’s warships to the British standard, particularly New Zealand and Canadian.

While the’“Daily Chronicle” does not question the laying hown of four Dreadnoughts for the coming year, the “ Daily News ” urges only two.