The sun., 1916-12-07
ASQUITH'S LONG TERM.
Held the Premiership More Than
Eight and q Hall Years.
6srcial cable Despatch TO TIE SrS from the

pUTtfuf 'UOte Desput'" 10 = l'o" ["
London Times.
LONDON, Dec. 6.-The London Times's
parliamentary correspondent. writing of
Mr.. Asuuith's resignation as Prime Min
)ster. says:
80 ends the longest and in mSny
ways the most remarkable Premiership
pf modern English history. Asquith
had been Prime Minister more than
eight and a half years. None Of his
predecessors since Pitt and Lord Mel
bourne had held this high office con-
tinuously 30 long n period.
mot only had Asquith fought and
won two general elections as Prime Min
lster but after six years of the ferces,
political strife he had retained his posi-
ton during more than two years of the
greatest war ever waged. Not only
that, but after the eclipse Of the purely
Liberal Government. which waged the
war during Its opening months. he con
tinued in Office AZ the head of the coali-
pon Government during the next eight
ben months. 1t is a monumental record
bhich IL now a matter Of history.
'"rhe fall Of the Cabinet vas brought
About by internal d~issensions. Since
the coalition there has been no regular
opposition. Although Sir Edward Car
yon has to a great extent focused the
dissatisfaction with the Government
which has arisen among the unofficial
members Of all parties. he would be the
last to claim any such title as leader of
the opposition.
As the crisis was an internal one. the
King obviously had to look for Asquith's
successor among his old colleagues. OF
these W ITO out above their fellows
-Lloyd George n Bonar Law-the
latter by reason Of his leadership Of the
largest single party in the House OF
commons.
ut Is customary for the King to ask
q resigning Prime Minister to advise
him of the statesman to whom he should
3ntrust the formation of the new gov.
Asquith advised His Majesty
20 send for Bonar Law. but it does not
invariably happen that the frat mar for
whom the sovereign sends Is able to
form the government.
"A historic case In recent times was in
1850. when Queen Victoria sent for Lord
Harrington and Lord Granville before
antrustinS the task to Gladstone.
Cause az the Crisis.
Speaking at a public meeting to-day
Lord Derby threw further light on the
cause of the political crisis. He said II
became apparent. especially in the mat
ter OF man power. that no serious grip
was being maintained by the Govern
ment on the position which existed.
What was required. he said. was a
small committee which could come to q
decision quickly On any question ana
make the department concerned carry
out the decisions arrived at. Unless tina
were done there would be great danger
that the plans of the General STAFF might
1ail in.1he coming year.
For this reason. Lord Derby said. hs
associated himself with the proposals o
Mr.. Lloyd George, which provided tina
the Wal Committee should consider al
real questions in regard to the war. con
etituting. In fact, a war abine IL
duties would he to consider careful,
every possible proposal and. looking for
ward. anticipate what the policy shoul,
be. Having adopted a policy, he said
the committee would stick to it and SEE
Il through.
1t was proposed further that the Pre-
mier should he required to attend al
meetincs and should have power to vet,
proposals OF the committee. The difi
Guilty arose over the composition OF thi
committee.
lord Derby's Appeal.
Declaring that he knew of no in
trigue and would have nothing to d.
with an intrigue II II existed Lore
Derby made a strong appeal to TIT
conflicting Ministers to sink their differ
ences.
7 go back TO party administration
he said, would spell ruin for thil
country. Is it too much to ask 70
reciprocal consideration?
w want the best men of all part,e
and ! feel it will arouse an ech hero
n probably in the country. IL WI ap
peal to all men. even at this eleventh
hour. to sink their differences and un
der perhaps new leaderships give u
still the best men of both sides for tn,
proper carrying on of the war"