The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-12-06
Premier ASquith Quits; BOnar
Law Declines Job.
KING CALLS ALL TO CONFER
Question Whether Lloyd
George Wants Premiership.
Outcome Will Be More Drastic
Offensive War.

London, Dec. 6.-A conference,
whose final decision will undoubtedly
mean the substitution of a fighting
government for the diplomatic govern
ment, which has guided England in
the war to date, was in progress at
Buckingham palace this afternoon.
Announcement of David Lloyd
George, leader of the aggressive forces
of the empire, as premier, was expect
ed momentarily.
King George, seeking a conciliatory
| agreement between the Asquith fac
ton and those supporting Lloyd
George, summoned the entire cabinet
to Buckingham palace.
Lloyd-George, about whose head the
entire cabinet crisis has whirled, was
summoned to a private conference with
the king during the morning after
Andrew Bonar Law had formally de-
clined to attempt the formation of a
| new ministry
Call in Asquith, Too.
Premier Asquith later appeared at
Buckingham. He was summoned to
the general conference along with
Lloyd-George, Balfour, Arthur Hen
derson, Bonar Law, Samuel and other
members of the government. Asquith
was one of the last to arrive.
this conference and political circles
were filled with various rumors as to
what the outcome might be.
Those who continued to look upon
the situation optimistically, insofar
as the Asquith government is concern
! ed, expressed the belief that salts
| factory settlement would be reached
With Bonar Law declining the pre-
miership, however, London generally
regarded Lloyd-George as-the only
logical choice for the new head of the
| government.
Predict Asquith's Return.
1t is known he would insist upon a
| ministry back of him of the most ag-
gressive type. Such a final selection
would be a complete victory for those
supporting the fight against the AS
qulth government.
Whether Mr.. Lloyd George, whose
action led to the d:s upton of the
coalition government and the resigna-
ton of Mr.. Asquith, would have any
greater success in forming a ministry
than Mr.. Bonar Law, is a question
which has not been answered. Polit-
icai correspondents predict that Mr.
Asquith will be back at the head OF
| the government before many days.
| Mr.. Asquith takes a majority of the
| liberal ministers with him in his re-
tirement, Mr.. Lloyd-George being as
sured of the support only of Herbert
Samuel, the home secretary; Edwin S
| Montague, minister of munitions, and
some of the junior ministers and tbs
| ginger group" 1t is not believed
probable Mr.. Lloyd-George would have
any more success with the labor mem
bers than did Mr.. Bonar Law, while
the attitude of large part of the
unionist party is doubtful. Mr.. Bonal
Law. Sir Edward Carson and the ear
of Derby probably would act under
Mr.. Lloyd George, as they supported
his ultimatum to Premier Asquith re
garding the formation of a smaller
war council.
Offered Premiership to Lloyd. George
After receiving Mr.. Lloyd-George
to whom, presumably, he offered the
premiership, King George summoned
to the palace several members of the
recent cabinet in the hope of solving
the crisis. Among those who attend
ed were Andrew Bonar Law, Mr.
Lloyd d-George, A. J. Balfour. first lorC
of the admiralty, Arthur Henderson
president of the board of education
and representative of the labor party
/ tCcutiDued on Page Twol