The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-01-07
ASQUITH REGIME
AT CRITICAL STAGE.
Hostility Of Labor Toward Con-
sOrlptlOn and DardaneIIes
Failure Threaten Britain.

LONDON, Jan. THE governments
position is moat critical today. Faced
FIRST by bitter hostility of labor to-
ward it's conscription bill. the cabi-
net found itself also under heavy hre
because of the Dardanelles failure.
The London press divided space to-
day between accounts Of the action or
the national labor congress in con-
den1ning tie CONSUMPTION bill, edito-
rial denunciation of the governments
Dardanelles policy, and the debate in
parliament last night preceding the
first vote on conscription.
9en. Ian Hamilton's final report on
the Dafdanelles campaign, frankly as
cribing the British defeat to the gov
ernment's failure to send re-enforce-
ments, was printed in the morning
papers today. The opposition news
papers seized upon 1t as another basis
for editorial attack on the Asquith
uiAnistry, using the Lloyd George ac-
eusation, '"Too late"
POWERFUL men Of all parties, how
ever, are ceminS to the governments
assistance TO prevent a general cleo
ton in the midst of the world war.
The CONSUMPTION crisis that threatens
~ NdplNEl al AZ liiG Ealhb
Is welding together many discordant
groups in parliament in support Of
the ,.Asquith ministry, Some OF the
most bitter opponents nf CONSUMPTION
are using their Influence to stem the
talk OF a general election. believing 1t
might have a serious effect upon Eng
lands fortunes in tho war.
TOn the other hand several leading
supporters of the government declare
they would welcome general election.
They believe the people would indorse
CONSUMPTION by overwhelming majori-
ties and return the Asquith ministry to
power armed with a vote of confidence
that would stife the opposition for the
balance Of the war.
Another source Of qualification to the
governments supporters today was the
fact that opponents Of the Consumption
policy rallied only 1OS votes on the first
reading OF the bill, to 4O3 for the gov
eminent
The resignation from the ministry OF
Arthur Henderson, labor member. and
two other labor officers. an under
secretary and lord commissioner OF the
treasury. revived rumOrs that other
cabinet members would Quit. though the
reports were not generally credited.
Railway Strike limited.
Admittedly one of the most serious
faotors in the whole situation was the
thinly yelled hint. dropped by Presi-
dent BeIlarny. of the railway mems
union. that railway sLrlAe might fol-
low an attempt to enforce consumption.
Bellamy declared at the labor congress
that compulsion was a direct blow at
organized labor, and said Il might
arouse passions that even the King
government might not be able to OPP
pose
Both the Daily Mail and the Daily
Telegraph expressed the view that a
general election almost certainly will
follow. as a result of labors opposition
to CONSUMPTION.
The consensus of opinion among
members of parliament, notwithstanding
the labor vote. is that vast ma jority
of the people of the country favor COM
pulsion,' said the Mail. THE govern
ment may take advantage OF the labor
vote to obtain the mandate OF the coun-
try and so dispose of criticism. Some
members Of the government believe that
nelection Is inevitable. and also that
Vt 10 the best solution of the difficulty.