Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-11-05
ASQUlTH ATTACKED
IN HOUSE OF LORDS
Member of Upper House Says II
Russia Got Rid of Grand Duke,
So Could Britain Of Premier.
CENSORSHIP BITTERLY FLAYED

LONDON, Nov. cabinet re-
sponsibility, the conduct of the war
and the censorship we're discussed,
criticised and defended at a short
sitting of the House of Lords this
evening.
Baron st. Davids started the dis
cussion by demanding that a full
meeting of the privy council. which
is composed of some hundreds Of
members from all parts Of the en-
pire, should be called to discuss the
present position OF affairs.
He said he believed the war would
have been better conducted by the
late liberal government than by the
present coalition. The late govern
ment, he said, carried on the war
with great vigor. while since the
coalition was formed no extraor-
binary vigor was noticeable. He
declared that those who have made
mistakes should be "scrapped" and
that hereafter no man should be
given office merely because of for
mer services or rank or wealth.
should he Held Responsible.
Lord willoughby de Broke declared that
Premier Asquith should be held RESPONSE
BILE for all mistakes,
"If Russia could get rid OF Grand Duke
Nicholas In the middle of the war;" he
said. England could get rid Of Asquith."
Viscount Morley OF Blackburn depre-
Gated the attacks on the premier and
pointed out that when he left the cabf-
net no did not trouble the lords with any
reasons which he considered good prac-
tice and especially when the country IL
at war. Speaking OF the censorship, he
asked the government to take steps TO
prevent official interference with ttp
publication OF intelligence unless It was
calculated to prejudice military and ma
val operations. The freedom of the press
he declared to be as important as the
| greatest constitutional issue,
He agreed with Lord selborne when he
spoke OF the stupidity Of the censor's
actions. Everything which made the
enemy think the country was afraid Of
the truth was an encouragement to the
enemy.
Lord Morley deplored the effect on
neutrals of the ostrich-like activities
and childish insincerities." OF the censor
ship. 1t seems. he said, as though the
censors had standing order to keep
the barometer nailed fast and set fair"
Baron Ribblesdale pointed out that
Premier Asqulth had assumed response
bility for 'the past. present and future
and could not see what moro was
\ wanted.
The lord chancellor. Sir Stanley o.
Buckmaster. replying 10 Lord Morley,
said he believed a strict and vigorous
censorship was required for the safely
and protection OF the troops. The CEN
sorship was designed 20 prevent I'M
prudent war cables from being sent
abroad and to prevent home newspapers
from printing anything that might be OF
use 20 the enemy
Because OF lack OF experience the
early history OF the press bureau. he
SAID was deplorable. and its ac-
tons were often unjust and unreason-
able but never Intentionally unfair. The
statement that the London editors were
dissatisfied with the press bureau as IL
existed today was absolutely contra
dicted by the facts. In his experiences.
he said. bad news was never kept back.
but he did object to cables passing
through this country which Disseminated
German lies"