Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-27
AWAIT THE REPLY
Of ARMY CHIEFS
Britain's Request for With
drawaI of Officers Resigna-
tjons Still Discussed.
STATEMENT MADE TODAY
TO HOUSE OF COMMONS
Field Marshal French and Gen.
Ewart Confer With Cabinet-New
Army Order Issued.

Army Order Issued.
LONDON, March 27.-The resignation
of Field Marshal Sir John French anc
Lieut.. Gen. Sir John S. Ewart had moi
yet been withdrawn and Premier Asqulth
after deferring his statement twice, was
able to announce in the house OF COM
mons this afternoon only that the govern
nent still was awaiting the reply of the
army officers to the cabinets request that
they remain in their posts.
Premier Asquith reached the house OF
commons straight from the second of the
two cabinet meetings held today, both OF
which were attended by the chief OF the
general staff, Field Marshal Sir john
French The premier said matters in the
question involved great compleXlty ano
great difficulty and seemed to the gov
ernment to require very full consideration
y partial or provisional statement would
he unsatisfactory.
Sir John French and Lieut.. Gen. Sir
John S. Ewart. the adjutant general of
the forces, had intimated a wish to be
relieved of their offices. Mr.. As1uith
said not because of any differences be-
tween their views and those of the gov
ernment as to the conditions under
which the army should serve or should
be employed in the aid of civil power,
but having issued the memorandum to
Brig. Gen. Cough they thought this
course incumbent upon them.
Government Conveys Its Wishes.
Premier Asquith then added:
The government has conveyed to
them its wish that as there is no diff
ference. of opinion on any ground or
policy they should not persist in their
request. the carrying out of which the
government would regard a serious
misfortune to both the army and the
state. We still are awaiting their final
reply.
These two gallant officers believe
that in the circumstances they were
justified in believing their action was
IN accordance with the instructions of
the ca binet and that they were trans
mitting those directions to the officers
concerned
1t is clear to US and to them that
there has been a misconception-a gem
uine misconception-in regard to the
intention and purport of the proceed
inSs in Ireland, out of which these
difficulties have arisen.
In view of these misconceptions and
to obviate the possibility of their re-
currence in the future the army coun-
ell has today-Field Marshal Sir John
French and Lieut. Gen. Sir John Ewart
being present-unanimous determined
Text of the New Order.
The premier continued:
The new order to the army is headed
discipline 1t has three articles, which
are as follows:
II No officer or soldier shall in fu-
ture be questioned by his superior officers
as to what attitude he will adopt or as to
his action in the event of his being re-
rs.d To nhpI-
tGre or hypothetical contingencies
III. An officer or soldier is forbidden
in future to ask for assurances as TO
orders which he may be required to ful-
I'LL
III 1t is the duty of every officer and
soldier to obey all lawful commands given
them through the proper channels. either
for safeguarding public property or to
execution of its duty or for the protection
Of the lives and property of the inhabi-
tants in case of disturbance of the
peace
That is an order issued by the army
council today which has now been ap-
proved and which regulates the conduct
and discipline of the army in future
Proceeding with his speech, the
premier remarked that he must repeat
what ministers in both houses of par
lament had said several times this
week. but in view of the wild legends
current it needed to be repeated. He
said:
1T is altogether untrue that the gov
ernment or any member of the govern
ment ever contemplated active operations
of an aggressive character in Ulster or
any operations which now or in the future
would impose on the army any duty or
service which was not amply covered by
the terms of this order. To that l have
only to add that the government adheres
10 all the declarations it has made
officers Urged to Reconsider.
Negotiations and conferences between
Buckingham Palace, the war Office and
Downing street were carried on through
out yesterday and 1t was known that the
strongest efforts were being adopted tc
induce Field Marshal French and Gen.
Ewart to reconsider. The prime minister
called a hurried meeting of the cabinet
at his residence after il was decided to
postpone the statement to parliament.
Strong pressure evidently was brought
TO bear on Sir John French to retain his
post He was summoned to an interview
with Premier AsQuith after the prime
minister had seen King George Subse-
uuently the field marshal proceeded to
Buckingham Palace to confer with the
king.
According to the best information. the
war office conference of all the principal
commanding generals OF the army was
called to enable Gems. French and Ewar,
TO explain that their resignation was q
personal matter arising solely from the
fact that they signed the Cough memo
randum, which the government since haC
repudiated, and they urged that all the
other officers remain at their posts.
Objections to Col. Seely.
Then followed interviews with the min,
listers and an audience with the king
with a view to inducing them to recon.
sder their action. But both Gen. French
and Gen. Ewart remained firm in their
decision that it would be impossible 10,
them to retain their posts while Col
, Seeiy remained secretary for war. They
were willing, however. to withdraw theiI
designations if Col. Seely was removed
Faced by this ulumatum and the
knowledge that there was strong feel.
ing against Col. Seely among the radi-
Gals the prime minister seemed to have
arrived at the conclusion that he mus,
abandon Col. Seely. There has been talb
cf appointing John Burns. president OF
the local government board, as secretary
for war, and q report also has been cur
rent of an exchange of portfolios between
Lewis Harcourt and Col. Seely.
Views of the Press.
Many rumors appeared in the mornin.
papers of the resignation of officers a
,,,f