Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-12-30

~ S'dt'H bll tNteliclt alNOrltv thdt the
cabinet has virtually decided upon a modi-
fed form of conscription bill. to be intro
duccd in the House Of Commons next
week. giving tho government tho necos-
say power. should it he found ncedfu t,
bring in single men and preserve Pre-
mier Asouith's pledge to married men.
London. Dec. .9.-festorday's cabinet
meeting, although It failed to secure an
agreement of all tho ministers upon tho
VcNcd question of tho voluntary system
versus corscripion, was of a very criti-
cal and decisive character and virtually
reached the decision that the application
for force may become necessary before
all eligible single men are cffcctuallv
brought to- the coors.
Therefore, It was resolved that at tho
earliest opportunity a bin should he in
troduced In Parliament in order that tho
government might have the necessary
power, sho'ild it 10 found that no other
course was effective to this end
Premier Asquth is expected to make
n statement on tho whole question in tho
House OF Commons on Wednesday, or
Thursday of next wcck. and announce
the speedy Introduction Of hill Of a
permissive character, making service ~
the army obligatory on unmarried men
who have failed to attest under tho
Derby scheme
Tho anti-conscription ministers offered
strong opposition. and II is still unknown
whether any designations will follow. r.
is believed. however, that this is quite
likely now.
Tho limo Of policy upon which a ma
ioritv of tho ministers agree, indicating
that some, at least of the anti-cou-
scriptjon section Of tho cabinet SO far
waived their principle as to consent to
- modified application IL force. is a.
follows:
First. that the rremier's pledge to mar
ried mon is binding on the whole gov
crrment
Second, that the pledge should he re-
deemed forthwith.
Third, that tho principle If compui-
sion should be accepted
Fourth. that tho premier should an
nounce this policy AT tho earliest oppor-
tunty after tho rcassemblng OF Parla-
meut
1t is believed that tho actual formal
resolution on tho new policy has been
cabinet on Thursday and that in tho
short interval Mr. .AsQuth will be cn-
ployed I'm asserting the strongest in
fu"nces to avert disruption of his cabinet.
II is still quite possible that a crises
may be avoided
Sensational press reports OF tho cabinet
aroused such al unusual public
interest in to-daY'S assembling that tho
police werc forced repeatedly to clear
Downing street Of tho crowds
In tho absence of any official statements
It IS d!Hi'ult to say exactly how serious
i the present situation Of the cabinet.
The members certainly maintain the app
pcarance Of outward calm. which would
hint that the difficulty is more a matter
Of deciding on methods and details than
radical difference on basic principles.
Tho truth probably lies some where In
between. 1t is admitted that difficulties
have arisen in connection with the Derby
fgures-that in certain parts of the Coun-
try single men have not enrolled in such
numbers as would warrant an impartial
tribunal in declaring that only n
negligible percentage remain outside. II
may be confidently stated that tho
ca binot as a whole accepts this fact.