The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-20
LLOYD GEORGE GAINS
IN RECRUITING FIGHT
No Decision Yet. hut PartiSans
Of General COmpulsiOn
Expect Victory.
ASQUITH DELAYS SPEECH
Spsc,d, Cabis Dssp1tch 10 1uB SuS


LONDON. April i9.-This has been an
other day OF intense political excite
ment. amid which the enormous issues
pending in the United States have been
practically ignored. Nothing else, how
ever important. stirs the public and the
newspapers here like domestic political
conflict. and the present occasion IL no
exception.
Parliament assembled In a feverish
state of expectation for the Premier's
announcement The floor OF the House
and the galleries were crowded The
most notable absentee was David Lloyd
George, Minister of Munitions. hut y.
!. Ralfour. First Lord OF the Admiralty.
also was absent. Many uniformed ofri-
Ger OF Parliament returned
from the front to attend.
Premier Asquith's plain statement
that the existence of the Government
was threatened went beyond what was
expected and caused "A corresponding
sensation. Its effect on the situation is
,ariously estimated. but the main fact
IL that the Cabinet still holds together
and the Indications AZ present are that
1t will continue unoroken.
The Drilu MdiIS Parliamentary cor
respondent says:
THE compulsionist member of the
Ministry are winning. David Lloyd
George instead Of championing the minor
i,y now seems to have gained "A major
ity. Nearly all the tnionist members
are convinced OF the necessity for moro
vigorous measures, while the anti-com-
p~ulsionists are losing strength there
now"
According To the Mails correspondent,
n general agreement for Compulsion Is
inevitable sooner or later, the differences
OF opinion being concerning how it shall
be applied.
a, an exceptionally prolonged Cabinet
meeting Mr.. Lloyd George. says the
Nuii's correspondent. submitted "A pro-
posal that a hill be introduced into Par
Lament at the earliest possible moment
providing for general ~compulsi"n, nut
with the proviso not TO put II into OPP
Grafton while the yield Of recruits With
out II reached q certain total each
month. This toia.. which was first sug-
g.~;ei at 10000 u month until Dccem-
her 81. apart from the yield of .he
Derby scheme, may he subject to some
modification.
As the discussions proceeded il is un-
deistood that only a few Ministers held
out as total opponents Of compulsiuu, and
eventually the issue became II oadiy one
of compulsion nov or CON pulsion by aud
~. At that Il now appears to ~ rest
ing
Premier AsduIth said to-day in tho
House of Commons that unless az agree
m.nt concerning conscr. ption could he
reached among the memher OF tho
, coalition Cabinet by next Tuesday the
Cabinet will break up. Premier Asquith
was acain compelled 20 postpone his
statement, concerning c~onscript!on unit
Tuesday.
When Mr.. Asquith promised that there
would he no other pOstponement Of tn,
statement Sir Edward Carson agreed tC
let his motion demanding military ser.
vice for all men ~ military age go over
Until the same time.
The Premier said that the members o.
the Cahinet still disagreed on very ma
'eriai points. lie added that the GOV
rnnen was united in believing, how
ever. that tho dissolution Of the Coali
ton Cabinet would 30 n national dis
as'er Of the most formidable kind. tn,
House. with the exception Of 4 few
tnionists. cheprcd 'hIs sentiment.
The louise passed a resolution for A.
adjournment until Tuesday. The cab
not will meet again on Thursday. Tn
Labor party has decided TO request
secret session uf Parliament. or Else h
informed in private Of the essentia
facts Of the recruiting problem. IT,
national labor conference favored In.
decision.
Hundreds OF Liberals have approved
resolution that Mr.. Asgu,tn : = uatioua
assn, as a Premier. Several meetings q
Ministers were hold fortnight.
Political tension in the House MAS *