Evening star., 1916-01-13
British Federation Resolves to
Oppose Asquith's Military
Service Plan.
LABORlTE MINISTERS
TO STAY IN CABINET
Henderson. Brace and Roberts Res
ignations Are Temporarily
Withdrawn.


Federation of Great Britain, meeting
in London today. resolved unanimously
to oppose the bill for compulsory mill
tary service.
The federation empowered its presi-
dent to call further conference in the
event that the bill becomes law, to
consider what additional steps should
be taken.
The designations from the ministry OF
the labor members, Arthur Henderson,
president of the board of education; Will
liam Brace and George H. Roberts, re-
spec1ively, parliamentary under secretary
for home affairs and lord commissioner
of the treasury, have been temporarily
withdrawn.
Confer With Asquith.
The labor leaders had long confer
ence with Premier Asquith at his invi-
tation when he gave them assurances
that the government was hiding no
ulterior motives behind the military
service bill
1t was later officially announced that
"in view of the fact that the whole
matter will be considered at the party's
annual conference at Bristol. the end
of January, 1t has been decided to
withhold the designations of Nessrs.
Henderson. Brace and Roberts for the
time being
AS a concession to the labor oppo-
sftion to compulSion, Premier Asuuith
announced in the house of commons
that the government will introduce an
amendment preventing employers from
using the measure as a weapon against
employees.
Upholds Compulsion Bill.
siasm, the house of commons, at IL
o'clock last night, defeated a motion
to reject the military service bill by a
vote of 431 to SO. Immediately after
ward the house acceded to the pre-
reading of the bill without division
The vote was chiefly interesting on
account of the changed attitude of
many of the los members who opposed
1t on the first reading.
Henderson Makes Speech.
The debate was closed by Arthur
Henderson. president of the board of
education, in a much appla uded speech.
He said 1t was a great satisfaction to
him that because of definite assurance
given his friends and himself by the
premier, in the name of the whole cabi-
net, he was able to remain for the
present in the coalition ministry. This
fact would be regarded at home and
abroad as symbol of the nations
unity.
The opposition in the house of com.
mons to the conscription bill crunb bIed
last night to few conscientious OBJ.
jectors. A fortnight ago the anti com.
pulsionists claimed 200 votes. but or
the first reading they were able to mus
ter only los, of whom more than one
half were Irish nationalists
When 1t came to the second reading
OF the measure the Irish nationalist
had withdrawn from the opposition
Premier AsQuith had pIacated ma
5orfty of the labor members who had
voted mo" on the first reading, and
only comparative handful remained
trreconcilable.
Confers With Labor Leaders.
The result appears to have been due
partly to evidences that the country
favors the measure and partly to Mr
Asauith's often displayed facility at
conciliation. The premier held a con-
ference with the executive committee
of the labor party and labor members
of the house of commons yesterday aft
ernoon. at which he induced the three
labor members of the ministry to with
draw their designations temporarily
and apparently made a strong impress
sion on the members of the executive
committee.
The labor men asked for assurances
that the bill should not be used as a
step toward general conscription or
industrial conscription. Mr.. Asquith
gave the promise that the bill would
be modified to safeguard it from any
suspicion that 1t could be used for
such purposes
Sir John Simon, the former home
secretary. was proclaimed by the anti
conscriptionists when he left the
cabinet a brilliant leader, but he
has become a leader almost without
followers. Fe urged the government
to make another trial of the Derby in
rollments before putting the act on
the books.
Premier Asquith characterized his
speech as academic thoughts on the
evils of compulsion, and the superior
ity of the voluntary system. but de.
clared that the country was engaged
In war. in which vital principals were