New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-23
BRITAIN UNITES
BLOCKADE POWER
Lord Cecil to Enter Cabi-
net to Direct Sea Grip
on Germany.
BERESFORD ATTACKS
CONDUCT OF WAR
Saws Disaster Will Occur While
"21 Amateurs" Conduct
Its Policy.

London. Feb. 22.-The government.
through the Marquis Of Lansdowne, an
nounced in the House Of Lords to-
night that it had decided to turn over
all matters connected with the block
ade Of Germany TO one man, who would
rank as a full -fedged Cabinet minister.
II is understood that the new post Will
go 10 Lord Robert Cecil, who, since
the formation of the coalition govern
ment, has been Under Secretary for
Foreign Affairs. He will retain this
post joining the Cabinet as Blockade
Minister.
The new minister will be charged
with the administration Of the Order
in Council regulating the blockade, as
we'll as responsibility for tho general
policy and practice of the government
with respect to trade passing into or
from neutral countries.
Lord Rober. Cecil is a lawyer Of wide
experience. and a young man, as mem
bers Of the British Cabinet go. In the
Foreign Office he has been intimately
concerned with the blockade operations,
particularly in their relation to the
complicated matters touching belliger-
ent and neutral rights. His elevation
to the Cabinet will give the Unionists
another representative in the coalition
councils.
Lansdowne Defends Cabinet.
The whole question Of the blockade
was thrashed out at considerable length
in the House of Lords this evening,
Baron Sydenham and Baron Beresford
making the principal appeals for a
strcter blockade, while the Marquis or
Lansdowne and Baron Buckmaster de-
Tended the government.
1t was Baron Beresford,s MAIDEN
speech in the House Of Lords, and ms
plea was spirited and epigrammatic'
contrasting notably with the ordinary
sombre. ra-dignified debates or the
upper house.
There is some doubt" he began,
"whether the government is going
about it's task in the right way.
war was never won by Orders in Coun-
ell or proclamations. but by hard hit
ting. If we want TO bring Germany
10 her knees we must exercise the
blockade power thoroughly and COM
pletely under the principles OF inter
national law. To do that IL is neces-
sarv to have policy and TO turn II
over 70 the navy and let the navy en-
force II. $1,000,
"The war is being conducted by
twenty-one amateurs who know nothing
whatever about it. The basis OF success
in war is foresight, and how can mere
amateurs. have foresight? The manage
ment of the war has been worse since
the coalition ministry was formed
brilliant retreats will not win the war.
Let us get this thing on its proper
basis.
"These Orders in Council may De
statesmanship, but they are not war,
and they are not likely to win the war.
I would allow nothing whatever 70 go
into Germany, not even luxurles. l
would abolish the distinction between
absolute and conditional contraband.
would extend the doctrine OF continu-
Gus voyage TO all contraband. The war
should be run by FIVE Cabinet ministers
without departmental duties. me
longer we have civilian control OF the
operations of the war the more disas-
tiers we shall suffer
Iron Grip Is Tightening.
The Marquis of Lansdowne replied
TO Lord Beresford point by point. o.,
"The conduct Of the war, he SAID,
els already in the hands OF small
committee, and that committee, so far
a the conduct Of the war is concerned
has never since it was created oeeh
hampered By the interference OF the
civilian members of the Cabinet.
cit is By no means true that there
has been anything approaching a UNI
versal increase in the quantity OF goods
passing 70 neutral countries IN the last
wear. / maintain that the filtration OF
goods TO the enemy through neutral
countries ia showing marked ten
dency TO diminish. owing to the meas
ures the government has taken. EH-
nerienced officials say that practically
no commodities of military importance
are now being imported into neutral
countries above the amount legitimate
" required for home consumption.
"Our blockade has accomplished some
very satisfactory results, and think
the Cabinet scarcely deserves TO be
stigmatized, as it was the other Day
as feeble and nerveless. Our nerveless
policy has killed German export trade
and seriously crippled import trade.
Denies "Feebleness" Of Government.
81 sometimes wish the people OF this