Evening star., 1915-09-18
ENGLAND |SFAC|NG
CRISIS IN CABINET.
Question of Conscription, Rock
on Which Split Will Come,
1t Is Rumored.
SEVERAL MEMBERS
THREATEN TO RESIGN
Winston Churchill Declares Some
Persons Are Trying to Make
Difficulties.

LONDON. September 1s.-England Is
absorbed in the rumored cabinet crisis
over the question of conscription, to
which, it is reported. David Lloyd
George and. Winston Spencer Churchill
had been converted. Lords CurZon and
Lansdowne, Andrew Bonar Law, Walter
Hume Long, J. Austen Chamberlain,
the Earl of Selborne and Sir Edward Car
son, the conscriptionist members ARE said
to be threatening to resign unless Pre-
mier Asquith, First Lord of the Adml-
ralty Balfour, Sir Edward Grey. Lord
Kitchener and other cabinet members
adopt their chosen policy.
Lacking positive statements from
Premier Asquith and Lord Kitchener
that compulsory service Is necessary
for the safety of the country, the sys-
tenn is likely to find little support In
the present parliament with the radi-
calls, laborites and nationalists opposed
to it. Many members opposed to con-
scription are prepared to accept, now,
ever, the verdict Of the premier and
war secretary on the question which
now is a subject of serious considera-
tion in the cabinet.
Churchill's Statement.
The first speech made to the public by
a member of the British cabinet since
the publication of rumors of differ
ence of opinion in the cabinet over the
question of conscription, and reports
that the members favoring conscrtp-
tion would resign unless compulsory
service was introduced within week,
was delivered by Winston S. Churchill,
chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster,
GoIl dow of
ut is not an easy moment" said Mr..
Churchill, for a public man to open
his mouth on any topic, for there are
so many people who seem to have less
to do than they ought to who are en-
gagged in trying to make difficulties.
even more than already existed, and
seeking to make artificial divisions in
regard to matters of great consequence
which should be approached in spirit
of impartiality and good will"
Allies Work Disappointing.
Mr.. Churchill added that during the
past four or five months the allies had
not done as well as they might have
hoped. There had been events which,
while not disastrous, were disappoint-
ments In France and Flanders Sc
ries of resolute and costly attacks was
made on the German lines, and al
though ground was gained, the lines of
the Germans were not pierced.
In the Dardanelles. he said, the allies
had gained invaluable ground which
led them toward a decisive conclusion.
but they had not gained the advantage
at the points at which they aimed.
Then there had come the retreat OF
the Russians, and while the Russians
were rearning and recovering their
strength, a new and unmistakable bur
den had fallen upon Great Britain. The
situation was a very serious one, but
the allies had 1t in their power to
carry the war to a successful conclu-
sion, and they could do it, the chan
cellor said, if they utilized their whole
strength and the national capacity.
Did Not Seek Struggle.
After all, Mr.. Churchill continued,
the allies did not seek the struggle,
and If they did their duty they would
have done all they could. If at the end.
the speaker concluded. the liberties of
Great Britain and of Europe were still
intact and inviolate those who after
ward looked back upon this unhappy
but not inglorious" generation would
be able to say, I'VE did not fail under
the test and have preserved the liber-
ties of the world"