The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1916-12-08
Will Probably Be Next Premier;
Law Has Declined
SUPPORTED BY PAPERS
If Appointed 1t Means That the
War Will Be Prosecuted
Vigorously
UNITED Press Dispatch.l

UNITED Press Dispatch.I
London, Eng, December 6.-An-
drew Bonar Law has declined King
Georges offer to be at the head of q
new British cabinet. This leaves lit
tie doubt that Lloyd-George will be
the next premier and will form the
new cabinet. Lloyd-George is the
definite hope of the reconstruction
lists, according to The Times and 9TH
er prominent dailies.
Placing Lloyd George at the head
of cabinet means that England
will turn deaf ear to all peace pro-
poSalS. British troops will prosecute
the war with more relentless vigor
than ever before.
King Sent For Lloyd George.
The public is waiting with greatest
interest the next step in the political
crisis. Ordinarily the selection by the
king of leaders, such as Bonar Law
to form a new ministry would be the
solution, but from the first there was
some doubt whether the Unionist
leader could succeed in the task, or
whether he could command the sup
port of a majority in the house of
The king sent for Lloyd George for
a conference today.
Lock to Lloyd George.
London, Eng, December cit is
general expected that David Lloyd
George, the war minister, will accept
the invitation of King George to
form a cabinet He was called this
afternoon to Buckingham palace by
the king. Earlier in the day he had
a conference with Andrew Bonar
Law, who has just declined the pre-
miership.
Response to Popular Demand.
UNITED Press Dis patch.l
London, Eng, December 6.-The
downfall of Premier ASQuith'S cabi-
net and the probability of his being
succeeded by Lloyd-George are in re-
Spouse to a popular demand. There
has been great dissatisfaction with
the Asquith policy. There is coun-
try-wide conviction that the Asquith
policy has been indecisive, vacillatng
and Incompetent in so great crisis
A more vigorous prosecution of the
war is demanded 7 King George in
acting as he did, followed the con-
stitutional precedent strictly, in call
ing on the leader of the strongest OPP
position party to form a ministry 4
London, Eng, December RI 6,-King
Georgeolate this afternoon summoned
the members of he3coalition cabinet
to Buckingham palaces. Among the
first summoned were A. Bonar Law,
David fLloyd-George and Arthur
Henderson.
Asquth Quits Cabinet.
London, Dec, 6.-The government
crisis found solution, which up to
the hour of its announcement was con-
sidered the least probable of prac-
tical alternatives.
Herbert H. Asquith resigned the pre-
miership, which he has held through
eight stormy years of domestic and
foreign, history. ,.,-.
The Unionist leader, Andrew Bonar
Law, was summoned to the palace i'm
medfately after Mr.. Asquith had de-.
parted and the king offered him the
prime minister's commission, which
he had just accepted from Mr.. AS
outfits hands. 11t
No announcement regarding Mr..
Bonar Laws decision has yet been
made, and there were some doubts
whether he will accept the heavy re,
sponsibility.
If he declines, it is considered GER
tain that the honor will fall. to David
the coalition cabinet, with some
changes in it's membership, and the
speeding up of the war management
will be the policy in either event.
Day of Excitement.
The premier'i decision to resign and
advise the king to summon Andrew
Bonar Law to form cabinet was
taken after day of extraordinary po-
litical excitement and activity. There
were constant comings and goings of
the political leaders between Down
ing street and the various government
departments.
Mr.. Asquith's retirement has taken
the politicians so by surprise that
they are not yet ready to predict the
results. The possibility that Mr.. AS
quith will consent to remain in the
cabinet with Mr.. Bonar Law, taking
the post of lord high counsellor, in
which it has long been considered he
might find congenial berth. is dis
cussed.
Herbert Samuels promotion from
the home secretaryship to Reginald
McKenna's position at the treasury
also is predicted, while acceptance of
the designations of Viscount Grey and
A. ]. Balfour, which some of the pa |
pers backing Mr.. Lloyd-George are de-
manding, is less likely under Mr..
Bonar Laws regime than if Mr.. Lloyd. |
George came into power