The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-31
Special Cable Despdtch to TnE suS

1
ference OF representatives Of labo,
here last night II was decided that uh,
| seriousness OF the conscription issu,
necessitates a national congress TO b.
attended by representatives Of every
section Of labor. including societies moi
affiliated with those which participated
In to-day's conference.
In view Of the fact that the com
puls.on bill is expected to be introduced
| on January the congress will be con.
vened on January g.
Last nights meeting was attended BY
the Ph' Hamen,ary committee Of the
Trades Union Congress. the executive
committee Of the Labor party and the
management committee OF the Gene, al
Federation of Trades Unions, under the
presidency of Arthur Henderson. lresi-
dent of the Board OF Education.
An official report or the conference
says:
The national situation arising out of
the Governments proposal with regard
! to the compulsory enlistment Of single
men was very fully discussed. II was
agreed that the Importance Of the issue
| involved is so serious that any decision
on behalf OF the trades union and labor
movement could only he reached by a
national conference OF representatives OF
the entire movement"
This recommendation subsequently was
discussed with the Parliamentary labor
party and received it's full concurrence.
One reason for the recommendation. the
official report on the conference says.
was the very pronounced VIEWS en-
pressed by resolution at the Trades
Union Congress last September"
That resolution strongly opposed con-
Scription in any form.
conference says:
THE details OF Lord Derby's recruit
Ing report were submitted at the meet
ing. together with a general outline OF
the Cabinets proposals for bill "a
meet the situation. The number of men
OF military age who remain unattested
took the conference by surprise. and they
were no less surprised by Mr. Hender-
sons description Of the methods by
compulsion TO these.
so frank was the informatio
vouchsafed by Mr. Henderson that prac-
teal unanimity was shown by those
present at the conference.
The South Wales miners execu.
tive committee has passed a resolution
against conscription. appealing to TIE
Miners Federation of Great Britain &c
convene conference OF protest.
Cabinet Meet. To-day.
The third Cabinet meeting Of the
week is to be held this morning. 4
Cabinet committee has been engaged in
drafting bill to give legislative effect
to the decision that Premier Aspuith's y
pledge to the married men must be re.
deemed forthwith.
This draft has been quickly completed
and was In the hands OF every Cabir ct
,s..l.k Is n
that II will be laid before the full Cabi-
net to-day and that final decision viii,
be taken upon 1t. The Cabinet will be
called upon to decide the exact method
by which the Premiers pledge is to be-
redeemed
II Is understood that the bill as
drafted is based upon the following prin-
ciples.
I. That compulsion he applied forth
with to all single men who failed to at
test under the Derby scheme.
.. That the machinery Of the Derby
scheme he made statutory.
For this purpose the bill may emerge
in different form from the Cabinet
draft.
1t is probable that objections will be
raised to the partial scheme of compul-
sion and that there will be demand
for final solution OF the recruiting
problem for single and married mon
alike. The majority of Cabinet menu
bers, however. have far taken the
standpoint that they are concerned for
the moment only with the redemption
of Premier Asquith's pledge. and that
they are not called upon tn devise a
scientific plan of compulsory recruiting
to carry the country to the end OF the
war.
Aim II tn Preaerye Vfnity
In arriving at this conclusion they have
been chiefly swayed by the desire to pre-
serve essential unity, not only in their
own ranks, but also In the House of
Commons. especially among the repre-
sentatves of labor
The position is serious one because
the ma ajority of the Cabinet members
will not know until they meet this morn
ing whether the whole Cabinet will as
semble 1t is possible that several Min
listers may resign. and, II So they may
signify this by not attending this morn
ing's session of the Cabinet
Following the audience which Mr., AS
quith had with the King yestc' dan re-
ports of actual Cabinet designations were
circulated In s1rne quarters. Ii is stated.
however, on the best of authority that
this was not the case and that the
Premier saw the King with reference to
the general situation and the New
Years honors.
II Is considered most likely that one
of the Ministers to resign will be Sir
John Simon. the Home Secretary. 1t IL
feared also that Walter Runciman. pres
ident of the Board Of Trade. who has
forsaken his routine at that office during
the last few days. may resign,
1t Is hoped that Sir Edward Grey, tn
Foreign Secretary, and Reginald Nc
Kenna. Chancellor OF the EMchequer,
will not quit the Cabinet
There IL no question of the resigna-
tion Of Lord Buckmaster, the Lord High
Chancellor. The resignation of Angus
tine Birrell. Chief Secretary for Ireland,