The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-08-12
Labor Minister'S Colleagues
Astounded by Stockholm
Peace Views.
DENOUNCED BY PREMIER
Lloyd George Says Retiring
Member Suppressed Ker-
cnsky's Message.

surprising action yesterday OF the Labor
party conference at Westminster, in
which, after an address by Arthur Hen
derson, Labor Minister in the British
War Council, 1t was decided by an
overwhelming, vote to send delegates TO
the Socialist peace conference at Stock
holm, Mr. Henderson to-day resigned
from the Cabinet
Premier Lloyd George. accepting the
resignation. said Mr.. Hendersons at
titude had taken his colleagues in the
Cabinet completely by surprise. The
Cabinet is strongly opposed to the Stock
holm meeting and they did not know
that Mr.. Henderson had changed his
views. He blamed Mr.. Henderson also
for falling to inform the labor confer
ence OF a message received from Pre-
mier Kerensky OF Russia denouncing the
proposed meeting at Stockholm, thus
suppressing a vital fact which would
have affected the action OF the labor
conference.
Letters Are Made Public.
The Prime Minister tonight made
public Arthur Hendersons letter of
resignation and his acceptance. both
dated to-day. Mr.. Hendersons letter
follows:
Dear Prime M:nister-At our inter
view last night l gathered you had
reached the conclusion that my reten-
tlon of the secretaryship to the Labor
party was no longer compatible with my
membership in the War Cabinet. Re-
cent experiences have impressed me with
the embarrassing complications arising
from this duality OF office. In those
circumstances, therefore, l deem it ad-
visable to ask YOU to release me from
further membership in your Govern
ment / continue to share your desire
that the war should be carried to sue
cessful conclusion and / trust that In a
non Government capacity l may be able
to render some little assistance to this
end. / remain, yours sincerely,
ARTHUR HENDERSON"
Reply of MIR. Lloyd George.
Premier Lloyd George replied
my DEAR HENDERsoN--I am in re-
ccipt OF your letter OF this morning
tsndering your resignation OF your posi-
tion as a member OF the War Cabinet
LnG have received the permission OF
His Majesty 10 accept Il. My colleagues
and have received with satisfaction
your assurance OF your unabated de-
| ElIt 10 dsSlsl III lHe prosecutor OIL inc
war 20 successful conclusion and they
greatly regret that you can no longer
be directly and offlcially associated with
them in that enterprise.
There are, however. certain facts
| with which II is essential that the pub
lie should be acquainted In order that
u ey may form a correct appreciation
nf the events that have led to this
rcgrettable conclusion. The first is that
your colleagues were taken completely
| by surprise by the attitude which you
adopted at the labor conference yester-
day afternoon. You know that they
were in the present circumstances unani-
muusly opposed to the Stockholm con-
f-rence and you had yourself been pre-
pared to agree 10 an announcement tc
that effect Some days ago and at your
suggestion, however, and that of your
| labor coilea gues II was decided to defer
my such announcement until after the
meeting yesterday.
shows Inconsistency In Course.
"I was under the impression after
several talks with you that you meant tC
use your influence against meeting
enemy representatives at Stockholm
What has happened in Russia during the
last few weeks has affected materially
our position In reference to that confer
ence. You admitted to me that the stu
alton had changed completely, ever
within the last fortnight, and that what
ever ground you might have thought
there was for delegates from allied coun'
tries In attending such conference s
fortnight ago, events OF the last few
days had shown you the unwisdom Of
such a course
That was clearly what you led me L
believe. 1t was also the impression lef
on the minds Of your colleagues in th'
Cabinet and of your labor colleagues II
the Ministry. 1t was. therefore, with M
small surprise that I received lette
from you yesterday afternoon statint
that you ought to inform me after mos
careful consideration that you had conn
to the conclusion you could take no othe
course than to stand by the advice yo,
had given the day after your return
from Russia and that your colleagues
subsequently read the speech which yo,
ought to have informed the Cabinet o
before You entered the conference.
Labor Men Acted in Dark,
when you spoke at that conference
YOU were not merely a member OF thu
Labor party, but member Of the Cabi
net responsible for the conduct OF th'
war. Nevertheless, you did not deem /
necessary to inform the conference o
the views OF your colleagues and tn
delegates accordingly were justified II
assuming that the advice you gave wa
not inconsistent with their opinions.
"The second point is this Yesterda!
morning We received a most importan
communication from the Russian Gov
ernment in which we were Informed tina
although the Russian Government di,
! not deem II possible to prevent RussiaI
! delegates from taking part in the Stock
I holm conference. they regarded II as
party concern and it's decision as in n
wise binding on the liberty of action o
! the Government and further, the cover
J ing letter which accompanied this c0m
muniCation contained these words
: hasten to lay before YOU the above in
! formation, as I fear that the impressio
, hitherto has prevailed that In the word
. OF one of the London newspapers Rus
: sia ardently desired the Stockholm cor
. ference and this argument has been pu
a forward In order to influence Britis
Q public opinion In favor of the Labor an
Continued on Second Pace