The Washington herald., 1915-07-13
mo COTTON FOR
KAISER, " SLOGAN
British Determined to Pre-
vent Importation Of U. S.
Staple.
SILENCE WAR SCANDAL
Premier Asquith Tells Commons Al
legged Mistakes of Leaders Must
Not Be Discussed.
SILENCE WAR SCANDAL

| London, July 1.-THE House OF Com
mons is not to be permitted to discus:
the misconduct of the war. Premier AS
quith made that fact clear this afternoon
in answering. or rather in refusing tt
answer, a series Of very disagreeable
questions.
| Il am OF the opinion that it is not in
the public interest to say more than that
no further public information can be
given at the moment" he said Il am
satisfied it would serve no good purpose
1t would be to the detriment of the bes,
interests of the nation"
| Sir Henry DaIziel brought up the al
most equally disagreeable subject of Lord
Haldane's recent statement regarding
munitions. which had brought forth a
denial and rebuke from Lloyd George.
Mr.. Asquith and Lord Haldane are close
personal friends. Sir Henry wanted to
know If the premier agreed with Lord
Haldane. To this and other questions
aimed at verifying the reports of trou-
BILE in the coalition cabinet, Mr.. Asquith
, merely replied:
Asquith Refuses to Talk.
II have nothing to add to my former
statements
At another point. asked if he agreed
with Lloyd Georges criticism Of Lord Hal
dane. Mr. Asquith bluntly refused to dis
cuss the matter further
Sir Arthur Markham asked il the house
were to understand that all those who
failed in office or in the public service
were to be retained, whether efficient
or not"
The honorable member is to under
stand nothing of the sort" snapped the
premier angrily.
Sir Edwin Cornwall asked whether the
government possessed adequate powers
without recourse to further legisla ton
for the control of the metal market This
matter also the premier declined to dis
Cuss.
In response to query by Member Ma
son. Mr. Asquith said he possessed no
information as to the peace terms which
the enemy was prepared to entertain.
Suggests Cotton Purchase.
The governments intention to shut off
at whatever cost all exports Of cotton
from the United States to Austria and
Germany was made clear in a discussion
started by Sir Henry Dalziel. who suS-
sested that Great Britain buy these ex-
PORTS UP to the amount of $3.50. 600 01n.
This. he thought. would settle the ques-
ton Of cotton shipped through neutral
countries
Lord Cecil replied that this plan raised
very difficult financial questions.
The government" he said. has to
consider not only Germany. but the
great producing neutrals, the United
States. Sweden. Norway and Denmark.
The policy of the government is to pre-
vent the importation of cotton into Ger
many. IL We find that this Importation
continues there will be nothing to pre-
vent us from adopting whatever plan
may seem to be necessary
Munition Workers SS,288.
THE purchase by England of the en-
tire American crop would be a tremen-
dous financial undertaking and ought not
be adopted unless every other plan fails"
Lord Cecil added that an agreement
had been arranged with responsible per-
sons whereby cotton would not be allow
ed to go from that country to Germany.
Secretary Addison announced that the
number of munition workers enrolled
was sa26s.
Premier Asquith announced that the
session of Parliament would probably
close before the end of the month.