The Yale expositor., 1918-05-16
POLITICAL CRISIS
IN BRITAIN PASSED
LLOYD GEORGE GETS VOTE OF
CONFIDENCE IN HOUSE
OF COMMONS.
REFUTES CHARGE OF MAURICE
Premier Was Accused BY General Of
Giving Country False Figures On
Conditions At Front

London-David Lloyd George won a
smashing victory oOne of the greatest
triumphs of his political career-in
the house of commons on May 9, when
he defended his administration against
the charges made by General Maurice
that the country was being deceived
by the premier in regard to the condi-
ton OF the British army on the west
ern front.
Striking straight from the shoulder
the premier threw his accuser, Gener-
al Maurice, completely on the defen-
sive. Then he challenged the house
to decide-"here and now"-to demon
state by a vote whether it wanted him
to continue in the premiership or pre-
ferred to have the opposition leader,
ex-Premier Asquith resume the reins
of government.
He staked the whole question on
Asquiths own motion for an inquiry
into Maurice's charge. The answer
was: Against the notion 293; for
the motion, l06 majority against, 1S7.
The Irish Nationalists, by unani-
nous consent, remaining absent from
the session.
1t was not eloquence alone. not a
purely emotional speech that won his
victory for him. ruth-uncontrovert-
ble facts, flung back at his accusers
who had charged him with want of
yeracity formed the boomerang that
administered the knock out to the plot
to oust him.
To sum up. briefly.
General Maurice had charged the
premier's-and Bonar Law figures
regarding the strength and disposition
of the British army had been incor.
rect.
The premier declared that these fig.
ures had been supplied him by Mau-
rice's own department in the war of
fee. He proved by reading the data
that served him in the speech in ques-
ton.
Moreover, he added, these figures
were correct But supposing they had
been incorrect, he said, ii was Mau-
rice's business to come and tell him
So AS it was the general acted un-
fairly" 1t was a piece of "sniping'
of which he was sick and tired and
which he implOred the house to put a
stop to.
General Maurices second charge
was that the premier had made a mis-
statement when he said the extension
of the British front had never been
discussed at Versailles. He, himself,
Maurice, had been present when it
was discussed. his letter had asserted.
The premier calmly passed back the
lie Maurice, he said, was not present
in the council chamber. and further
more, the extension matter was never
discussed at Versailles having been
previously agreed upon between Field
Marshal Haig and General Petain.
AS for the immediate reasons for
the extension, the premier said, it was
undertaken, not to the degree original
ly desired by the French. but in a
manner decided upon by a compromise
and then only owning to very great
pressure from the French.
Throughout the debate the govern
ments side showed a strong, thorough
ly united front While this might also
be said of the opposition, there was a
marked difference between the meth
ods of procedure and the arguments
produced by the two opposed camps.
Mr. Lloyd George plunged into the
offensive from the very outset. From
start to finish he had the upper hand.
Every blow he answered by counter.
blow twice as sharp. There was no
evasiveness. no dilly-dallying abou,
his attitude.