New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-10-19
EDWARD CARSON
RESIGNS POST In
BRITISH CABINET
Attorney General Believed
Forced Out by Near
Eastern Policy.

London, OCT. Is. or Eu"aru NaiSoHt
Attorney General, has resigned from
the British Cabinet.
Sir Edwards resignation. the first
open manifestation OF the divergence
of views known to exist among the
ministers. is the result, according TO an
authoritative statement, not OF the con-
troversy over conscription. but OF the
condition of affairs in the Near East.
Sir Edward himself so far has made
no personal explanation of his reasons
for resigning, but it ia understood that
he disapproves of the policy which IS
being followed in the Balkans and Dar-
danelles and Of the method of coniiding
the whole national policy TO small
elmer cabinet"
The resignation Of Sir Edward cnr-
son comes as no great surprise TO those
who have followed recent events IN inc
british Cabinet. The London press, IN
fact. has been predicting i for week,
The fact that Sir Edward had remained
awav from three successive Cabinet
councils led 10 the report of his reslg-
nation last Wednesday, but prompt
denial followed from the Unioniit
leader
Sir Edward. since his entrance into
the Cabinet had held very strongly 10
the view that the war must be con
Quoted without compulsory service. IL
was also reported from time TO time
that he had been nj odds with other
members OF the Cabinet on the condi-
tion of affairs in the Balkans and OAR
danelles. though it was presumed until
to-day that his greatest objection was
10 conscriptionist efforts in Parlia-
ment. His resignation is probably
nartlv due TO the attempt OF conscrip-
ZIONIST members 10 force decision
this week in favor Of ultimate compul-
sion. an.
n had been generally assumed. THE
Tondon Chronicles" Parliamentary
correspondent declared yesterday, that
the question OF compulsory military
service would be left in abeyance until
Lord Derby had completed his task as
chief recruiter.
Split on Conscription.
DOUBTLESS the conscriptionists." said
this correspondent, "feel sincerely that
compulsion is necessary TO win the war
but the voluntarists, who are stiil IN n
majority in the Cabinet, are equally
convinced that an abandonment OF the
lpresent system before it has been tried
TO the uttermost would not strengthen,
but weaken. our arms
The correspondent predicted that an
attempt 10 rush the Cabinet in favor
Of compusion so soon after Lord DERBY
had put his hand 10 the plough might
produce disastrous results.
at can only divide the Cabinet" he
said in conclusion, "and if there is a
break-up OF the Cabinet there will be
a division in the nation. The conscri2-
ZIONIST ministers will be frustrating
their own objects by precipitating a
crisis"
Crisis in British Politics.
The crisis apparently has come
sooner, perhaps, than had been ex-
pected The intention OF certain Cabi-
net members 20 force a prompt decision
has evidently been carried out SIR
Edward Carson's resignation may be
but the first OF many 20 follow. Il is
no. improbable that his act will pre-
cipitate crisis in British politics
graver than any the country has faced
since the war began, and which may
have n profound influence on the future
conduct Of the war by Great Britain
and her Allies.
IL is the general impression that the
present government is hopelessly d.
vergent regarding conscription. the
Dardanelles operations and Serbian in
tervention. Even the conscriptionis.s
are said 10 disagree among themselves
on the Dardanelles and Serbian ques-
tions There is no doubt that the Bril-
ish public IL In a restless mood and
expects drastic action Of some kind 1r
other. Under such conditions "A split
in the Cabinet seems inevitable.
Many persons are urging the creation
Of a small body Of experts. FIVE 20
seven in number. who will be given full
power 20 assume the direction Of the
war. with the members Of the present
government 20 execute their demands
Il is argued that radical step Of this
kind - necessary, as ~ would be i'm
possible or extremely difficult TO form
or reorganiZe a new government under
present conditions The advocates Of a
small war board point ou. that com
mittee of this kind would do away with
friction and divergence OF views i'm
possible 10 eradicate in a large, delib-
erative committee trained solely To
deal with political situations. This
iden has been quietly gaining follower,
in influential quarters for the last two
months.
The questions before the House OF
Commons this week have revealed the
Of mind OF Parliament mem
bers IN regard TO various aspects OF the