The sun., 1916-12-04
No fnal solution has

cabinet crisis. No final solution has
bsen reached.
"The facts are simple. Lloyd George
has long been known to be gravely dis
satisfied with the irresolute manner In
which the Cabinet war committee d.
rected the war. On Friday he informed
the Prime Minister that he could not
continue to remain a member OF the
Government unless the machinery for d.
recting the wal were drastically over
hauled.
sMr. Lloyd George made representa-
tions I'm writing, and proposed to Mr.. As
nnlth that the war committee should con-
olst Of only four members, and should
have absolute control OF the direction OF
the war. lie suggested hat the consti-
tuition Of the war committee should be as
follows Lloyd George, Sir Edward Car
or. Bonar Law and possibly Arthur
Henderson. These four would. OF course.
have the active cooperation OF Sir John
SslIicoe md Sir william Robertson.
The wal committee al present COM
nsts Of seven Observation-Disclosures As
Gu1th, Lloyd George. ms Law. Ar
dur Balfour. Reginald Mckenna, Lord
Curson and Mr.. Montague. II Is a
Dommitfee OF the Cabinet. whose de-
0sions are subject to confirmation OF
che full ministerial body Of twenty-three
persons.
"Whiie Il Is true II controls the daily
conduct of the war without reference TO
he Cabinet, which almost automatically
ntines its acts. II has expanded, with
4fncial advisers and regular ministerial
Visitors, into a body almost as cum
Srous as the Cabinet itself. We havs. In
fAct, almost reached the position Of hav-
Ia two Cabinets sitting side by side,
liking a hand In the war.
The Prime Minister obviously needed
dime to consider the proposal, which In
yolves at least three important de-
rhrturcs from the existing policy. First,
he Withdraw wal OF Mr.. Asquith and other
prominent Ministers from the war COM
mittee: second, the Infusion OF new
Mood BY the introduction OF Sir Edward
Carson and a Labor member; third, The
ttansference from the Cabinet to the
var committee OF independent control of
tie war In all aspects. from the conduct
n operations to such ~semi-domestic
Questions as supplies, the blockade o o
control and man power.
the Prime Minister did not reply un
m Saturday morning. Then he informed
n. Lloyd George that he could not &C.
cept the proposal as II stood. There the
Issue remained for a few hours. The
various parties went out of town after
the Prime Minister had a long audience
Of the King.
yesterday found the Ministers hurry
ing back to town for a series or con-
ferences. Tonight the Prime Minister
~ not accepted Mr.. Lloyd Georges
lDeoposal. He was prepared to accept
0aiy q reduction OF the number on the
war committee.
ut was made clear. however, that
NJ. Lloyd George did not stand alone
Mr.. Bopar Law Is believed TO nave
thrown In his lot with him and to have
given general support to the proposal
? Both Lloyd George n Bona Law In
sisted particularly upon the need OF az
6ociating Sir Edward Carson In th'
work OF the war committee. Lord Derb,
also has definitely associated himsel
with Lloyd George. He is prepared e
support him even 20 the extent of resig
nation from office.
'~This Is the issue. a principle or
VAich there can be no compromise
Either the old order will survive. or tn
noW one must tax its place. Lloyt
. George Is determined to fight the mat
ter out. but ak OF designations Is pre-
mature. There has been no resignation
- far, and there was some hope to
night that there would be no need o
them, but designations there must be
he long deferred issue is not settled b!
Wisdom and resolution.
"0Ome importance attaches to the de
! 0aAo. on man power fixed for Thursda,
u the House Of Commons. The Unionis
var committee has sent urgent calls I
members in active service, asking ther
To obtain leave II possible to be preser
In the House during the debate. TIC
morrow the House will discuss the wa
hoard crisis. which Is not yet solved