MISAPPREHENSION CORRECTED

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14203, 4 February 1915, Page 5

MISAPPREHENSION CORRECTED

BRITISH GOVERNMENT AND THE

WAR

(Received Thursday, at 11.25 a.m.) LONDON, Wednesday.

In the House of Commons, Mr Bonar Law said he wished to correct, a misapprehension. It was erroneously thought that as the Government supplied the Opposition privately with infor. mation respecting its plans for tho prosecution of the war, that, therefore, the Opposition would to some extent sharo thoir responsibility. It must be perfectly plain that the Opposition has no responsibility, and in refraining from criticising the action of the Government, were influenced solely by what was considered to be national interest.

Mr Asquith replied that the Government alone was responsible for tho policy of the country and the conduct of the naval and military operations. Ho did not desire in any way to abrogate or share the responsibility with anyone, or shrink from fair legitimate patriotic criticism. The supplying of information to the Opposition did not fetter its right of criticism. He acknowledged the co-operation, patriotic in spirit, and inestimable in value, the leading members of the Opposition had given tho Government.