New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-02
Henderson Quits
Cabinet, Angry
Commons Hears
Labor Member Attacked for
Going to Paci6st Meeting
in Paris

London, Aug. IA crowded House Of
Commons was excited to-day by rumors
that the Cabinet had been considering
the resignation Of Arthur Henderson,
member of the War Council, which II
was said had already been rendered.
yiscount Duncannon. Unionist for
Dover, moved the adjournment OF the
House for the purpose of calling up the
question whether the government was
acting constitutionally and in the ma
tional interest in permitting Mr. Hem
derson to accompany pacifst mission,
including James Ramsay Macdonald
and George James Wardlc, both men,
bers of Parliament, to Paris.
Mr.. Bonar Law, the government
leader, had affirmed in Parliament that
Mr.. Henderson was acting only in his
capacity of secretary Of the Labor
party, but, asked Viscount Duncannon,
since when could minister doff his
ministerial responsibility with his hat?
The government must have tacitly con-
sented, because it could have withheld
the passports.
Viscount Duncannon demanded an ex-
plieit statement and declared that II
Mr.. Henderson had committed himself
to a conference with the Germans the
government must ask him to resign.
Henderson's Statement
In a personal statement 10 the House
MIR. Henderson denied that he had
gone to France TO discuss the war STU
alton or that he mission Inended, as al
legged. 10 proceed to Italy. He regretted
that Judgment had not been postponed
until he had been heard.
This is what really happened, accord,
ing 10 the minister: When he returned
from Russia ne heard that the Onlted
Socialists of France, representing ma
iority of the Socialists and lncluolhg
members Of the French government, had
invited Russian delegates TO hasten 70
Paris to examine a new invitation 10
an international conference, ana sug-
costing that some British delegates
should accompany them to discuss the
proposal and take the opportunity 10
talk over the proposed inter-Allled DO
cialist conference.
He assumed that there were no Cd
iections TO the latter conference, whlch
had the governments approval. Ihelr
visit was for the purpose of examining
the invitation extended weeks ago by
the Dutch Scandinavian committee, pre-
sided over by Hjalmar Brantlng, whose
pro-Ally opinions had never been dis
guised.
Invitation Authorized
The invitation was also signed by
representatives of the Workmen's and
Soldiers group and authorized by the
most representative conference held in
Russia since the revolution. He
wanted to impress upon the House,
whether they liked it or not, that 1t
was decided to hold this conference.
The crux of the matter lies in the
fact that Mr. Henderson since he re-
turned from Petrograd reversed mis- at
titude on the question of the British
Labor party and Socialists meeting the
German representatives at Stockholm
and now advises them TO rescind the
former resolution against joining the
conference with enemy delegates. Mr.:
Henderson has not publicly explained
his change of views, but IL Is known 70
be the result of his visit to Russia. 1t
is stated that the heads of the Labor
party officially accepted his ad vice,
which, nevertheless, seemed to have
caused a crisis in the party, which is
nowise unanimous in its support OF Mr..
Henderson.