The Washington herald., 1917-08-14
.LABORITE HITS
LLOYD GEORGE
Ousted Cabinet Member
Precipitates Critical Stu
alton for British
Government.
CBy the International News Service,

London, Aug. 3.-Arthur Henderson
hit back at Premier Lloyd-George in
the Commons today. He hung the
charges oc<double dealing" ''unfsir-
ness" ayd bad faith" at the govern
pent, Whose steersman had accused
himIbf these things in the now famous
lefer accepting Henderson's resigns-
pon from the war council He did not
back his cOunter-charges up by de-
finite details. Instead. he enveloped
the whole affair In a shroud Of mys-
terry by shouting:
"If the complete story Of the Stock
holm conference were told now n
would not be to- the national inter-
ests"
Uproar Marks Session
Invective ard uproar marked the
parliamentary session. All the stored
up bitterness Of both sides was un-
loosed. While the meeting was In
progress the debate was largely a
contest between two men who today
stand foremost as the shapers of
Britain's destinies-Premier Lloyd
George, representative OF the Crown.
and Henderson. leader of British or
ganized labor
Immediately after the session the
larger aspect Of the controversy be-
came clear. A perilous breach be-
tween the governments OF the entente
countries and their respective Socialist
and labor parties. What makes q SO
fraught with danger Is that the point
at issue is one OF honor and patriot
ism
Refuses Passports
The storm broke Immediately after
Chancellor Of the Excheouer Bonar
Law had announced that the British
government will not issue passports 70
British delegates to the Stockholm
peace conference.
1T is not legal for any person
residing in his majesty's dominiona.
70 engage in a conference with enemy
subjects" he said. Therefore, per-
mission to attend the Stockholm con-
ference will not be granted" He
added:
The same decision has been made
by the governments Of the United
States, France and Italy. with which
his msjesty's government has been in
Communication.
Henderson Answers Charges
This was no surprise 10 the Labor
party. which voted last week with a
majority Of more than $4,000 70 send
delegates TO Stockholm The premier
had previously made clear his stand
The attention and interest Of the
house were centered upon Arthur Hen
derson. who had promised TO have his
say" in Parliament today The pre-
mier had accused him Of double deal
ing, Of having made the government
believe he would not uge British par
ticipation and by Withholding from the
Labor party a certain so far myster-
ious telegram from Kerensly, show
ing the latters opposition 70 the
Stockholm plan.
Henderson emphaticauy refuted
these charges. He said II there had
been any double-dealing. Il was on
the part OF the government. This. he
said was true particularly in connec-
ton with his recent trip TO Paris. The
only inference a majority Of his hear
ers could draw from this was that the
government was not, as Il had been
asserted, ignorant OF that visit TO the
French capital, where he conferred
with French labor leaders about the
Stockholm meeting. Some even de-
duced that he meant TO convey the
government had sent him, presumably
10 persuade French labor against the
peace conference.
May Uphold Leader.
However that may be, the issue Is
now clearly drawn. All depends upon
the Labor party's conference August
u. II they uphold Henderson. black
~
national crisis OF incalculable con-
sequences will result. The seven
labor ministers will be compelled TO
resign. A government without labor
representation is untenable- Disso-
luton of Parliament and a general
election will be the inevitable Sc
quels.
Trouble makers in ireland are show
| ing signs OF trying TO take advantage
I of the embarrassing situation This
] was indicated by the fact that For
| eign Minister Balfour was obliged
to announce in the commons that
| passports for Irish trade unionists
to 90 TO Stockholm could not be
| granted.
Depends on Kerensky.
The debate developed that the main
point OF dispute is whether Kerenslzy
, is for or against the Stockholm peace
conference. The premier, quoting a
| telegram from the Russian dictator
TO the full purport OF which there
have been only vague references go
far, asserted that Kerensky does not
favor the conference.
This Henderson denies. He accuses
Lloyd George OF having placed a mis-
leading Interpretation on the Russian
prime ministers message. But even
| II this were so. Henderson and his
followers assert, Kerensky's opposi-
ton would not alter the view Of
British labor. Two Russian delegates
now here declare that neither would
1t alter the determination OF the Rus
1 sian Socialists 10 go to Stockholm.
The worst feature OF the whole
situation is that il is becoming more
and more likely that Russians and
Germans will meet alone at Stock
holm. And OF the German designs
on Russian impressionability grave
things for the entente are feared. g