Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-02-13
Opposition to Premier
Peace Views and Sec
recy Led BY Asquith.

|
commons today resumed its session
after a reply TO the speech from the
throne Discussion of foreign and
military affairs was dropped temper
arily for consideration Of the admin
istration of the government at home,
Herbert Samuel, formerly secretary Of
state for home affairs, made the open
INK speech on this subject. Later the
decisions of the supreme war council
at Versailles, will be taken up again.
Parliament reassembled today
on tiptoe with curiosity as to how
Premier Lloyd George would meet
President Wilson's latest declaration
and the dissatisfaction manifested by
section of the press and public over
the Versailles council, and also as to
how far H. H. Asquith, the former
premier, would respond to the demand
Of the extreme wing of his followers
for the abandonment of the policy Of
benevolence toward the government in
favor Of active opposition based on
disapproval of the general war policy
and especially the enlargement of the
functions of the supreme war coun-
ell.
The house of commons was not dis
appointed. for the sitting proved I'M
usually exciting. 1t could hardly be
said that Asquith rose to the expecta-
ton of the most eager of his party
but the temper of large section OF
the members seemed to show that
such tactics would meet with consid-
cradle support.
AsQuith Takes Wilson View.
Perhaps the most notable thing was
the contrast in the speeches of the
premier and the former premier with
reference to President Wilson's
speech. While Asquith endorsed fully
the presidents yieH,.~R Premier Lloyd
George did not even mention Mr.. Will
sons last speech and declined to see
In Count Czernin's statement any
nearer approach to reasonable terms
than in Count Won Hertling's. More
over, the premier regarded the Ger
man chancellor's demand that Great
Britain give up her coaling stations
as proving fully that the controllers
Of German policy were in no'mood to
discuss reasonable terms of peace.
Premier Throws Down Gauntlet.
Declaring absolutely that he would
not yield on the matter of revealing
more about the Versailles conference
Premier Lloyd George challenged the
house. if dissatisfied with the govern
ment's conduct of the war, to put an
other government in its place.
The question of enlarging on the
status of the Versailles council led tt
little scene between the premier ant
Mr. Asquith, and throughout his re
marks about the council the premier
vas subjected to running fire o.
heckling, punctuated with loud cheers
from extreme liberals. many OF whom
in subsequent speeches made strons
attacks on the premier regarding his
alleged connection with the press.
Raps Connection with Press.
Lord Hugh Cecil, member of OXFORD
university, admitted the premier
speech was reassuring, but said tha
The weakness Of the government la!
in the existence of condolences be
tween utterances in the press AM
certain lines of governmental action
he hoped the government would no
hesitate to suppress, if necessary
even the most influential journals act
ing contrary to the national interests
Admiral Sir Hedworth Meux invited
The premier to get rid of his privat'
secretaries and also the press which
vas hanging around his neck like al
albatross."
While the Versailles conference va:
under discussion the premier also wa'
met by constant cries OF don't di
vulge,"
Haig Still on job.
AT one point Andrew Bonar Law
tnancellor Of the excheauer. interpos
ing to deny that Field Marshal Haif
or General Robertson had been dis
missed or resigned, and being closet!
pressed by heckler, added, "as far a:
know"
The house then adjourned and thu.
H no mention of motion OF want o
wnndence in the government has beer
paced on paper
Will Stand by Aims.
The government, Premier Lloyt
veorge sad in his speech, would stant
the declaration of war aims h
msoe last month to the trades unions
representatives.. He said he had reat
shn most profound disappointment
we replies OF Count Won Hartling ant
,oont Czernin TO the statements mad
himself and President Wilson
aere was a great difference In TIN
we OF the Austrian and German
seches, he said, but he could find NJ
Nuerence in the substance. AS to tn
taid
what was his reply to the allies
~ moderate demands? His answe
mat Great Britain was to give VI
coaling stations throughout tn
Via | confess think that was tn
demand Germany ought decentl
nave put forward.
ihese coaling stations had been a
.sesssible TO German as TO British
In the past the German nee
- NJ