The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-28


the Government decided that Great BRIT
ain should participate In the war. The
paper declares that II will be impossible
for the pledge not to be fulniled and
Asquith still to remain Premier.
The question OF a general election IL
dismissed by such papers as the Tory
Post and the Liberal Chronicle as being
absurd. The Post says an election would
be a. hollow a sham a. that held re-
Gently by Greece. The ChroM,cie says
Il would be "madness."
Among those who remain resoiuteiy
opposed to ~compuision Arthur Baifour.
First Lord Of the Admiralty, figures
prominently. Those who are supposed
TO favor immediate %compulslon include
Lloyd George. Lord L%ansdowne. Earl
Curson. Sir Frederick r. Smith, Austen
Cha mberiain. Walter n. Long n Lord
Selbourne.
With Mr.. Baifour opposed ia com.
pulsion are Sir Edward GREY, the Mar.
qu,s Of Crewe, Sir Stanley Buckmaster.
Rseinaid McKenna, Sir John sImon.
Walter Runciman. Augustine Birreli. 4
Nick. Wood, Robert Vernon Harcourt
and Arthur Henderson.
It is understood that Earl Kitchener
and Bonar Law have not yet stated their
attitude definitely.
Premier Asquith desires. It 10 under.
STOOD. to keep his pledge in the str,cteSt
sense Of the word ana conseouently.
being unable TO secure sufncient support
at the Cabinet meeting to-day. adjourned
b meeting until tomorrow. Before
that time the Ministers have agreed to
consider their individual positions and
to arrive at a Anal decision.
TIT mysterious temperance OF Wins
tor 9. Churchill. who resigned his post
IN the Government and went to the front
a month ago. has become highly sig
niicant In view Of the present Govern
ment crisis. The political commentators
do not fail TO indicate this fact and to
hint at his probable appointment to an
important post II the present Cabinet is
unable to agree on conscrpltion and Is
dissolved.
The discussion At the Cabinet meeting
regarding Lord Derby's recruiting report
revealed a grave difference OF opinion.
The Cabinet seems to be divided Into
two currents OF opinion. One party, ap-
parently in the minority. holds strongly
that the Prem:srs pledge must be re-
deemed Immediately and that the Gov
srnment shall take the necessary powers
20 apply the principle OF compulsion
whore 1t Us necessary. They resard the
pledge as binding on every member of
the Cabinet and intend 10 see Il honored.
Ho tothputSlou phIty III tHc ShD
met has no intention OF abandoning its
position without a struggle. That party
demands that the single mon who have
not so FAR come forward be given anoth-
e. chance.
These were the two main currents Of
opinion the Premier has to face. They
seem almost incompatible. and there Is
no sign Of finding any solution. A third
group Of Ministers who may carry
weight when the issue is put to a de-
cisive test rave not made up their minds
one way or the other.
The present divisions In the Cabinet
point to fundamental divergences re-
specting the prosecution Of the war. The
Cabinet for some months has never been
really united n the question of supply
OF men. and now has come to a point
where a vital decision must be made.
The Issue is so clear that II cannot
be debated long and a decision must
be reached quickly. The Premier I'M
doubtedly will make a great effort to
stave on any designations, for he 10
anxious to maintain the Cabinet intact.
Parliament when II assemblies next
week Will expect Premier Asquith to
place before II an unhesitating statement
Of policy.
General Election Talked OF.
The Morning Post. equally with the
TIMES and the Daily Mail, all conscrip-
zionist papers. sees the possibility Of
several cabinet designations. or the other
alternative. a general election.
The Morning Telegraph INC the
Chronicle, anti-compulsion organs. are
also apprehensive of "A crisis OF a gen.
eral election.
The Chronicle editoriaily' protests
AGAINST 'lntrlguers and wire pullers.