Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-15
LLOYD GEORGE MAY
\ BECOME DICTATOR
War Council Plan Will
Greatly Strengthen Brit
ish Premier's Power
TENSION MUCH ABATED

LONDON. Nov 15.-Premier Lloy
George will virtually become a dictator wit
the establishment of the inter-Allied wa
council according to well.informed opinio
today. At the same time II was said o.
good authority there was no chance 70
Lloyd George having his position a
Premier shaken by debate in Commons OF
the war council plan next Monday
Tension over the proposed council hat
abated somewhat today, but the politica
situation is still threatenlns
"There-may be remarkable development.
before the end of the year" was the pre-
diction made today by the parliamentar,
correspondent Of the Chronicle.
The crux of the situation as outlined TO.
day was this when Lloyd George made /,
known that a supro ne war council was tc
be formed In Paris for "closer unity and
better direction of operations on the west
ern front" a number of newspapers at once
began attacking the scheme The details of
the council and its real functions were un-
known. In+the absence of this information
the press jumped at the conclusion that
politics would play big part in the forma-
tion of the council and fears were ex-
pressed that civilians. without military
training might try to dictate to the vet
eran officers now in charge of the British
and French armies. These press attacks
led to a declaration in Commons by the
Premier.
TENT OF AGREEMENT
The text of the agreement, as he gave it,
70 as follows
with view TO better coordination Of
the military action on the western front.
supreme war council Is created COM
posed Of the Prime Minister and a mem
Der Of the Government of each of the
great Powers whose armies are fighting
on that front, the extension or the scope
OF the council to other fronts to be re-
served for discussion with the other great
Powers
The supreme war council has for it's
mission to watch over the general conduct
OF the war. II prepares recommendations
for the consideration of the Governments
and keeps itself Informed of their execu-
tion and reports thereon to the respective
Governments
The general staff and military COM
mands of the armies of each Power
charged with the conduct of the military
operations remain responsible to their re-
spective Governments.
General war plans drawn by competent
military authorities are submitted to the
supreme war council which under higher
authority OF government insures its con-
cordance and submits, if need be. any
necessary changes.
Each Power delegates to the supreme
war council one permanent military rep
resentative whose exclusive function is to
act a technical advisor to the council.
Military representatives receive from
the Government and the competent mill
tary authorities of their country all pro-
posas. information and documents reat-
Ing to the conduct of the war
The military representatives watch day
by day the situation of the forces and
the means of all kinds of which the Allies
and enemy armies dispose.
The supreme war council meets nor
mally at Versailles. but il may meet at
other places according to circumstances
Meetings of the supreme war council take
place at least once n month.
The Premier's statement makes II clear
that the council will not have any execu-
tive power nor will IL curtail the authority
OF the commanders and general staffs of
the British and French armies All the
council can do is to make recommendations
out 1t viii try to keep in closer touch with
military developments than the Govern
ments have been able to do in the past.
DEBATE on MONDAY
The council will be debated in the House
OF Commons on Monday. and not until this
discussion is over will the Government see
It's way clear to go on with its new war
plans
There were reports that the British
cabinet might fall before the storm is
weathered and the resignation of the
French ministry seemed To strengthen
these reports. In this respect the sarlia-
mentary correspondent of the Chronicle,
who is usually well informed, says:
'The position is very similar to that ex-
isting year ago when disappointment over
the Rumanian collapse reacted very detri.
mentally upon the Asquith government.
However, the British cabinet had no more
responsibility for the Rumanian collapse
than 1t has for the present situation exist.
ing In Italy. Members find il difficult TO
narmonize the Premier's statement in
parliament yesterday with his recent
speech In Paris. Where was the justtica.
tion for the Paris utterance?"
The Morning Post, views the general
situation as "an alarming prospect"
" addition to the friction caused by the
plans for the war council considerable dis.
content has been engendered by the de.
yeiopments in Italy. 1t is declared that
France and England knew that Germany
was preparing for a great offensive against
the Italians, but that nothing was done to
save the day until II was too late. 1t is to
be one of the objects of the War Council TO
prevent just such eventualities in the
future.