Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-03-30
Premier Assumes Office
When Resignation of
SeeIy is Accepted.
TO MEET AN EMERGENCY
Announcement Causes Profound
Sensation in House of Com
mons-Approved by King.

London, England, March 30-Colonel
Seeley, secretary of war, resigned
from the British cabinet today and the
resignation was accepted.
Premier Asquith himself decided to
take the secretaryship of war in place
of Colonel Seely.
John French, chief of the imperial
general staff of the British army and
Sir John Ewart, adjutant general to
the forces, definitely resigned from
the service today.
"Seely's resignation has been ac-
cetped,' was the euphemistic express
sion by Premier Asquith announcing in
the commons today that the war sec
retary had paid the penalty for the m
discretion in adding to cabinet docu-
ment two paragraphs which aroused
such feeling as threatened the exist
ence of the entire cabinet. The para
graphs were those giving guarantees
to Brig. Gen. Cough and officers un-
der him in Ireland, that they would not
be called upon for active service
against the Ulster unionists.
Taken as Rebuff.
ater reputation of these guarantees
by the cabinet was taken as rebuff
by Field Marshal French and Adjutant
General Ewart. These two generals
Immediately resigned. Their resigna-
tions were made definite today.
- Hsqufth furtf1er announcement that
he himself would take the portfolio OF T
war came in the nature of a surprise.
He declared he would retire from the
house of commons, until 1t pleases
my constituency to sanction my re-
turn" The premier then dramatically
walked out of the chamber amid fran
tic cheers of liberals, nationals and
labor members, all whom rose and
waved handkerchiefs and papers.
Asquith, having accepted an office
Of profit under the crown" must re-
turn to the constituency in Scotland
for reelection.
The chamber was crowded when As
luith made his promised statement In
he army crisis. He said that French,
Swart and Seely persisted in their de-
sire to be relieved of their offices. In
he public interest he deeply deplored
speak too gratefully of the ability and
oyalty with which the have served
he state and army, and will, I hope,
continue to serve"
Members Dumbfounded.
Then he sprang the sensation:
I'm the circumstances / have felt It
ny duty to assume the office of secre-
ary of war, although have taken the
tep with the greatest reluctance in
What / believe to be great public
The announcement was
complete surprise on every hand.
Members of the ministerial side mo-
rentarily were struck dumb. They
umped on their seats and broke out
n wild hurrahs.
The premier announced that French
md Fwart had asked him to say that
hey were in entire accord with As
uiths statement in the house Friday.
The premier said King George ap-
,roved of his assumption of the war
'ffice.
Will Take One Salary.
Asquith decided to take only one sal
ry as premier and secretary OF war.
n his speech Seely said: Grave is
ues have been raised which may mean
hat the whole army system may be
ecast" Ministerial cheers greeted the
The resignation of ViscouDt
Iorely as president of the council ia
generally expected. He was associated
With Seely In drawing up the offending
paragraphs of the memorandum to Of
icers.
Lloyd George, chancellor and ex.
hequer. is i'll. He was unable to par.
icipate In the critical discussion in
he house of commons today on the :
ituation brought about by the resig.
ations of army officers in Ulster. His
ebating power is regarded as a great
sset by the government.