South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-03-30
Colonel Refuses to Withdraw
Resignation From Cabinet
and Premier ACiS Against
All Precedent.
WILL ASK REELECTION
TO ASSUME POSITION
RetireS From House Until "COn-
StituentS Sanction His Re-
turn"-Shake-up in Govern
ment is Postponed.
BY HERBERT TEMPLE.

LONDON. March 30.-Premier AS
quith's efforts 10 effect "a solution of
the army and cabinet crisis in such "A
manner as 10 leave his ministerial gov
e-.ment i2tact failed today.
Col. J. T.. i. Seely. secretary of state
for war. refused to withdraw his resig-
nation though heavy pressure had
been brought TO bear upon him at
long cabinet session.
His action indicated that Field Mar
shall Sir John French and Gen. EWart
would follow a similar course, as the
three men were responsible for the uE-
authorized guarantee given to Gen
Hubert Cough and other officers IN
ireland that they would not be called
upon 10 COerce the people of Ulster IL
they rebelled against home rule.
Tne nrSt announcement or Seely
determination to withdraw from the
cabinet came from news agency. 1T
was confirmed when the house -ot
commons convened this afternoon. At
that time the war minister took his
seat on the third government bench
This was tantamOunt 10 an OtHclal
announcement mat he had resigned
altogether from the cabinet.
Premier Asquith announced his de
CisiOn 10 take SeelyS post as soon as
the parliament session began. He al
SO stated that he had failed in his az
tempt TO induce Gen. French and GEN
Ewart to withdraw their designations.
Without Precedent.
The action of the premier in tax
ing over the duties of secretary OF war
was without precedent in the modern
history of England. 1t caused intense
surprise as Home Secretary Reginald
MCKenna had been regarded as the
logical candidate for the position in
case Seely resigned The premier's
decision was taken TO mean that he
had found his plans to effect a re-
.. F.fr OF la
Gus and that he would postpone the
shakeup until "a later day.
The premier Will have to seek re-
election as a member OF parliament
in order 10 assume the post of war
minister and in making his announce
ment ne stated that he would do so.
In concluding his mOmentOus an
nOunCement, Premier ASqulth said: L
shall therefore. in accordance with the
law. retire from the house until IL
pleases my constituents To sanction my
return"
The premier added that he had con
suited many lawyers and that ii was
the highest opinion of all that he
would have TO resign in order To take
the war portfolio.
Answering questions put TO him by
the opposition, ASquith stated that
neither he nor his colleagues in the
government knew of the two para
graphs added 10 the army cOunciFs
statement until after the letter had
been handed 10 Gen Cough. The
liberals gave the pr, mier a tremen-
dous ovation as ne left the house IN
compliance with his intention.
Most Important Week.
The parliamentary week beginning
Monday is one of the most import
ant in the political history of the Unit
ed Kingdom. Leaders OF the opposi-
tiOn party prepared 10 open another
bitter attack upon the government in
"A final effort to force out the cabinet
and Kill the home rule bill IL was
20 combat the effects OF this attack
that the members of the government
labored So strenuOusN.
Following the cabinet meeting a
cabinet committee held prolonged
conference with Field Marsha, French
and War Secretary Seely. which was
taken as indicating developments OF
the utmost Importance.
Immediately after this conference
Premier Asquith hurried 10 BuCking-
ham palace and was in audience with
King George for some time. The pre-
mier outlined the course of action
adopted by the ministry and discussed
the outlook for this afternoons events
in the debate in the house OF COM
Excitement Prevails.
The assembling of commons was at
tended with tremendous excitement
For hours before time FOR the session
TO be called 20 order party whips were
busy rounding up all the members So
that 81 a vote was taken ON any QueS-
tion the gOveEnment would not be
caught mapping.
chancellor David Lloyd-GeOrge was
nor i'm his place Word had been re-
ceived from Wilton that the chancel-
Tor is ill there under care ot pnysl-
clans but many persons acquainted
with the inside OF the political situa-
zion declared that the absence OF the
chancellor was really due 10 division
OF sentiment among the cabinet mem
bers.