Evening star., 1916-01-07
THREE LABOR MINISTERS
SEND IN RESERVATIONS
Opposition and Action of Party
Have Placed Asquith Regime in
Critical Position.
OTHERS ALSO MAY STEP DOWN
Appeal to Country Then Would
Likely Follow-Bill Passes Its
First Reading in House
of Commons.

! LONDON. January 7.-There
seems little doubt that a general
election will be the very last
measure resorted to by the gov
ernment to obtain the desired
general consent" to the estab-
lishment of the attenuated form
OF compulsion provided for in the
pending military service bill.
That such general consent would
be obtained by an appeal to the
country is admitted by virtually
every one, but the belief is eX-
pressed in many quarters that it
can be won without such an up
heaval.
| Three Ministers Resign.
AS the result of hostility to the gov
ernments measure by British labor
the designations from the coalition
ministry of all three labor members.
Arthur Henderson, William Brace and
| George H. Roberts, holding, respective
| ly, the Offices of president of the board
of education, parliamentary undersec-
! retary for home affairs and lord COM
| missioner of the treasury. have been
announced: Others, il is declared, are
possible.
The question on every tongue at the
political rendezvous clubs is whether
| the momentous events of the day had
| brought general election within
sight.
In Critical Position.
An appeal to the country and a break
up of both the coalition government
and the labor party are contingencies
of the near future, and while the gov
ernment has secured what in ordinary
circumstances would be regarded as a
| satisfactory majority. 2SS for its BILL
the detection of a large section of the
! labor party, with the loss of four
| members of the government. admitted
| ly places the government in critical
position. and many doubts are expressed
| that it will succeed in weathering the
storm.
Possible Appeal to Country.
| No cabinet council yet has been sum-
, moned. and a majority of the members
of the house Of commons are averse to
| a general election. but an appeal to the
country may come about in either of
| two ways. First. the house of lords
| could, without the consent of the gov
| ernrnent. bring the life of parliament
to an end by simply declining to pro-
ceed with the parliament and regTstra-
| tion bill. which prolongs the life of
parliament eight months. On the other
hand, it may still be found that Regi-
| nald Mckenna, chancellor of the ex-
chequer, and Walter Runciman, presj-
dent of the board of trade, are quitting
| the cabinet, though nothing yet is
| known of their position. in which case
| it would not be improbable that the
government would seek an exit from
| its difficulties by resigning and ap-
pealing to th= country.
Wild Scenes in Commons.
| Scenes of wild enthusiasm reigned
when the house of commons last night
passed the first reading of the govern
ment bill for compulsory military
service. by the decisive vote of 403
TO l05.
The vote came shortly before mid
! night with the galleries again packed
every seat Oh the floor OF the house
occupied, the ministerial benches filled.
and an air of eager expectancy prevail
| ing. The events of the day had in
| creased the tension to d high pitch,
/ notably the action of the labor con-
gress, and the quick sequel of the re-
| tirement of three labor members of the
! ministry.
Arouses Tagging Spirits.
| Throughout these developments out
| side of parliament the debate in the
house had forged steadily ahead. but
| had been left largely to lesser figures
| 1t was reserved for A J. Balfour. first
| lord of the admiralty, TO close the de-
! bate in behalf of the government. and
he did it in persuasive appeal of half
an hour which reused the tagging
| snirits of the advocates of the bill and
| turned the tide of adversely which had
been running steadily against the
measure through the debate and the
outside events of the day.
| az ct this vote tonight show that we
rs united people," was his closing
anneaJ DO not let us give a false i'm
pression to the world that-:n the mo-
| ment of the countrys graVest emer-
| gancv we are divided one against an
other Abandon your abstract theories
md remember we are dealing with
starn realities which call for great sac
| rifices."
Result Is Cheered.
Then came the vote, which was taken
amid eager interest as the members
h,ed before the tellers. and peers
| crowded to their galleries to witness
the final result. The announcement of
the figures was received with tremen-
dous outburst Of cheering, which rang
through the chamber and was echoed
to the waiting crowds outside. Scores
of members in khaki waved their hand
Larchfefs and the air was rent with
white papers flung in triumph at the
governments success.
Eation for Asquith.
Amid tina demonstration, Premier As
Il hi erlSs