Milford chronicle., 1914-04-03
SEELY REFUSESTO
STAY IN CABINET
Premier Assumes Duties o.
War Minister,
AR%Y CHIEFS ALSO OUT

Generals French and Ewart Definitely
RESIGN Their Commissions In Brit
ish Army
II was announced in London, Eng
land. after a stormy session OF the As
quith cabinet that Colonel }. l.. d
Seely, secretary Of state Tor war, had
refused to withdraw the resignation
lie offered to the premier last Weeh
and had given up his portfolio.
Almost Immediately after Colonel
SeeIy's final pronouncement Premier
Asquith declared that he himself
would become the secretary OF state
Tor war.
This disruption in the ministry
coming as it does on the eve OF the
final fight over the home rule bill
finds the government facing a still
further problem.
Before the house convened there
was a protracted cabinet council, inI
which Field Marshal Sir John French
and Lieutenant General Sir John
Ewart the army leaders who resigned
following the Ulster army crisis, took
an active part. The chief oil the i'm 1
perial stan and the adjutant absolute
ly refused to reconsider their resig
nations.
Colonel Seely's resignation has
been accepted" This was the euphe
misuc expression employed by Pre-
mier Asquith in announcing to the
house that his war secretary had paid
the penalty OF his indiscretion in ad.
ding to a cabinet document the two
paragraphs which have aroused such
feeling as TO threaten the existence Of
the entire cabinet
The paragraphs which caused the
crisis were contained in a memoran-
dun written to Brigadier General HUI
bert Cough and they contained the
following:
The government must retain its
right to use all the FORCES of the
crown in Ireland or elsewhere to main.
tain order and support the civil power
n the ordinary execution of their du.
~, but it has no intention whatever
IF taking advantage OF this right in
order to crush political opposition tG
he policy or the principles OF the
ZONE rule bill"
The later reputation of these guar
intees by the cabinet was taken as
ebuff by Field Marshal Sir John
french, virtual commander-in-chief Of
he army, and by Sir John Ewart, the
djutant general TO the forces. The
wO generals Immediately resigned.
nd all efforts made by the king, the
remier and the other ministers failed
D induce them to change their minds.
Premier Asquith's further announce
lent that he himself would take up
be port folio Of secretary Of state for
'ar came in the nature of a surprise.
LAYING announced his intention to
AXE up the office he declared he would
7tire from the house of commons. in
acordance with the law, until il
leases my constituents to sanction
ny return"
The premier then dramatically walk
! out OF the chamber amid frantic
leers from the Liberals, the Nation.
lists and the Labor members. who
'se to their feet and waved handker.
liefs and papers as he lett.
Mr. Asquith, having accepted ian
nee Of profit under the crown" must
Wv return to his constituency of East
lie, Scotland, for reelection. On the
st occasion he received SAG votes
'ainst the 1850 of his Unionist Cd.
lnent
Andrew Bonar Law, leader of the
position, thought it would be impos.
Bile to proceed with the Irish home
lie bill in the absence Of the premier
It Premier Asquith remarked that
would be at hand if advice was
'nted' and then left the house. of
lich Reginald McKenna, the home