Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-11-03

eet the Criticism that a cabinet or
and Russia could not allow Serbia to
FERROUS combination The general stats
of France and Great Britain have been
IN the closest consultation, which cul-
minated in the welcome visit of the
lilustrious commander-in-ch1 The
result, l am glad to say. is complete
agreement between US as to the end
and the means. but 1 can disclose moth
ing more. Serbia may rest assured that
her independence. is regarded by us as
one of the essential objects Of the war"
Urges All to Do Part.
Dealing with the financial aspects of
the situation, Premier Asquith laid
trenchment.
Every man in the country" he de-
clared, in dealing with the question
of recruiting, Ought to be doing the
thing for which, for the purposes of
the war, he is best fitted. There has
been difference of opinion among
the ministers as to whether the full
exploitation of the recruitable area
could be obtained by the voluntary sys-
tenn. Personally, 1 think it is purely
a question of practical expedience. Ad-
mittedly our system of voluntary re-
cruiting operates. in a haphazard, ca
PRECIOUS way, and my objection to the
employment of compulsion under pres
ent conditions is not due to any blind
ness to the defect of the existing sys-
tenn. My objection is that the employ
ment of compulsion would endanger
the maintenance of national unity. If
you apply compulsion without general
assent you defeat your purpose"
Referring to Lord Derby's recruiting
70 ;ofo
the country. as soon after November
80 as 1t was possible to collect informa-
ton, whether 1t was successful
believe, he continued. "it will pro-
not. and if it is shown that in the
recrultable reservoir there are num-
pers OF men of military age who still
hang back. ! will not hesitate to rec
ommend supplementing the voluntary
system by some form of legal obIiga-
Cabinets War Committee.
The premier stated he had concluded
that it was desirable to maintain the
CABINET war committee concerned with
the higher direction of the war. hut to
limit its membership. He suggested
that it should not comprise less than
three nor more than five, but should
have the power to summon ,,ersons
having special knowledge or informa-
ton for the purposes of consultatio,
The relations of the committee to the
cabinet. he, thought, should. be elastic
put the cabinet should be kept in,
formed Of important decisions and con-
suited oe1ore any important departure
In policy was taken.
me premier stated that there also.
IN future. would be more co-ordination
oerWeen the stans of the allied powers.
n,is ouc On upon the question Of sup
premier said that the financial posi-
uon was serious. He quoted statistics
OF exports and imports and of ex
penditure upon the war
We cannot go on discharRinp bus;-
ness unless both government and in
olVlduals adopt more stringent econ-
omy. Our position does not Compare
The standard of life in GERMANY has
peen depressed to a very low point in
oeeo, put We must be prepared to make
Iar greater sacrifices than we have
cone. The average cost Of our army in
peace times is f100 per head per wear
Today 1t is between ESQ ami fao0r
reviewing his own share in the TAX
ing of the decision of August last wear
Premier Asquith declared:
mere Is nothing I wish to unsay or
confident now as fifteen months ago
tnat we are going to carry our right
eous cause to a triumphant conclusion.
l am not going to shelve the burden
laid on my shoulders until 1 am sat
isfied can no longer bear the burden
AS long as enjoy health and the con-
Hdence OF my sovereign, the house and
the country, l will. not surrender the
task. heavy though it be- =.
Premier Asquiths closing words
were: Let us endure to the end"
Premier Asquith spoke for nearly two
hours. His voice was strong and he
apparently was in excellent health His
complete self-possession seemed to dis
pose Of the rumors that he was weary
of Office and iufended tn reaiop 80