Omaha daily bee., 1917-08-13


, Premier Lloyd George wrote Mr..
Henderson a scathing letter Of ac-
ceptance, in which he practically ac-
cuses Mr.. Henderson of bad faith and
duplieity in his dealings, both with
his cabinet colleagues and with the
laborites, and promptly gave the let
ter to the newspapers.
The premier thereby created situ-
alton which puts Mr.. Henderson on
the defensive and which may cause
the laborites to retract their decision
to send delegates to confer with
Germans, Russians and neutrals at the
Swedish capital.
Mr.. Henderson stated in a note to
the press that his position will be ex-
planned to the House of Commons.
CABINET OPPOSES MEETING.
The letter of the premier makes it
plain that the cabinet is opposed to
the Stockholm meeting and also that
the present Russian provisional gov
ernment is lukewarm, if not opposed
altogether. The gist Of Premier Lloyd
Georges letter is that Mr.. Henderson
gave the cabinet the impression that
he agreed with them.
They expected him to advise the
labor party against the conference and
were greatly surprised by his change
OF front. They also expected him TO
read Premier Kerensky's message re-
garding Stockholm, but he suppressed
It and by so doing misled the labor
ties into taking a course which they
thought the russians de .ired.
/ Important labor societies already
arc arrayed against the verdict OF the
party yesterday and it may be re-
versed by referendum or by general
consent or failing such action, il is
wholly possible that the government
may act with France in refusing pass
ports to Stockholm.
Public Is Mystifed.
The whole incident is 'mystifying.
Mr.. Henderson's reputation has been
that OF a most straightforward man,
one OF the last of whom the public
would expect shifty diplomacy or
double-dealing, and an honest mis-
understanding on his part may be the
real explanation.
Mr.. Henderson recently returned
from Russia with the conviction that
the Russians were strong for the
Stockholm conference and the British
should meet their wishes. He has
taken no part in war cabinet delibera-
tions since his return, being absorbed
in the labor partys' business, but he
has been generally regarded as a SORT
OF government ambassador to labor
and as the governments spokesman
on labor matters.
The Saturday Review sayssthc gov
ernment sent Mr.. Henderson to Petro-
grad with the intention OF making him
ambassador to Russia il it appeared
that laborite would be more ac-
ceptable to the revolutionary govern
ment than Ambassador Buchanan.
whose previous position as ambas-
sador to the imperial court might have
prejudiced the revolutionary party
against him.
Arthur Henderson entered the Brit
ish war council without portfolio to
represent labor in December. 1916.
when Premier Lloyd George formed
ministry in succession to that headed
by Herbert Asquith.
Was Center of Storm.
Mr.. Henderson has been the center
of political storm that has been
brewing in England for several weeks.
In June last, as member of British
mission to Russia, he went to Petro-
grad and after conferring with the
Russian council of workmens and
soldiers delegates, returned to Lon
don and advised the British labor con-
ference to send delegates to the inter-
national socialist conference at Stock
holm.
The labor conference by more than
) to J, voted i'll accordance with
Henderson's. advice.
Considerable feeling was aroused i'll
England last month when Mr.. Hen
derson went to Paris with the pacifst,
James r. Macdonald, and George ].
Wardle, acting chairman OF the labor
party in the House of Commons, and
several Russian delegates, to confer
with the French socialists regarding
the proposed conference of entente
allied socialists in London and the
subsequent international conference at
Stockholm. Irritation was increased
when Andrew Bonar Law, speaking
for the government, admitted that the
trip TO Paris had been made without
the knowledge of the British govern
ment.
After hearing Mr.. Henderson's ex-
Continued on Page Two, Column One.)