New-York tribune., 1917-07-19
Balfour Defends His Col.
leagues Conduct in the
Foreign Office
Kut Inquiry Dropped
War Crisis Delays Action;
Dillon Bitterly Flags
Government

London, July 1s.-The House OF Com-
mons tonight declined to interfere
further TO force the resignation OF
Baron Hardinge, Under Secretary for
Foreign Affairs. BY vote of 176 to 81
the House rejected motion by John
Dillon to adjourn the House with a
view to forcing the hands of the gov
ernment to accept the resignation for
his connection with the Mesopotamia a
campaign. 4--, gees --- 'a
Mr.. Dillon in q speech demanded the
adjournment OF the House and casti-
gated Baron Hardinge, but after has
indictment of the Under Secretary the
debate was rather languid. Arthur D.
Balfour. the Foreign Secretary, reply
Ing to Mr.. Dillon's criticism, stanchly
defended Baron Hardinge, contending
that although he might be attacked Tor
what he did as Viceroy OF INDIA, IL was
grossly unfair and unconstitutional 70
attack him as Under Secretary Tor FOR
eign Affairs. .@..y..;d
Mr. Balfour. al will not permit such
gross act of injustice to one OF my
subordinates. II the House decides
that because I adhere to that decision
| ought to resign, nobody will be more
grateful. than myself for that express
sion of opinion, -. ,s..+
Mr.. Balfour further. argued that
Baron Hardinge had only the same re-
sponsibility as other ministers and for-
n1er ministers, and asked, why are
these ministers and ex-mlnisters not In
the Dock"
Announcement was made by Andrew
Bonar Law, Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer. that the government had de-
cided not to proceed with the proposed
judicial inquiry.
In coming to this decision the Chan
cellor said the government had been
guided by the objection to a further
inquiry raised during debate on the re-
mort. and also was influenced by the
undesirability of diverting the thought
and energies of the Legislature and the
executive at this critical time from
the prosecution Of the war. The SOL
diers would be dealt with by the army
council in the ordinary way and the
decision announced as soon as possible,
he said:
The government, on the representa-
ton of the Foreign Secretary, VINO
alone was in a position to judge. Mr..
Bonar Law continued, had decided that
il would be detrimental 10 the interests
Of the Foreign Office if it should at the
present juncture be deprived Of the
services OF Baron Hardinge, Under
Foreign Secretary, and had therefore
refused his resignation which had
thrice been. rendered. II It had been
in the power OF the government to re-
fuse the resignation of j. Austen
Chamberlain as Secretary for India,
Mr.. Bonar Law added, it would have
done so.
In moving the adjournment OF the
House Mr.. Dillon powerfully indicted
the government and said that the mat
ter involved the great principle OF
Ministerial responsibility and Parlia-
ment's sole means OF influencing the
executive. Mr.. Chamberlain had re-
signed, but Baron Hardinge, whose re-
sponsibility was the heavier, Mr. Dill
lon said, was, because he possessed
powerful social influence, allowed to
ride off in honor.
The relatives Of the men who died in
unspeakable agony on the banks OF the
Tigris, said Mr.. Dillon, would condemn
a Parliament guilty of such neglect of
it's duty. What would the country say.
when it learned that the culpable Off
GERS had been court martialed, while
the civilians went free? He understood
that the next Dardanelles report was
going TO be very unpleasant.