Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-10
Parliament Rejects Plans of
British Governments 0pposi-
ton by Vote of 293 to 106.
LLOYD GEORGE ExPLODES
GEN. MAURICE CHARGES
Punctures Rumors of Political Inter.
ference With Army and Claims
Ministry Had Misled Nation.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
LONDON, May 10.-The quick and
successful manner in which the Lloyd
George ministry in the house of COM
mons yesterday dealt with an unpleas-
ant incident, which had caused more po-
litical bitterness than any preceding
chapter Of this troubled administration,
was brought about by a sudden change
of tactics on the part of the cabinet.
Mr.. Lloyd George detailed, in burn
ing speech, his version of the controv-
ersy which Maj. Gen. Maurice began.
The debate was brief and the premier's
explanation was its dominating feature.
The cabinet rode safely over the crisis
by vote of 293 to 106. The majority
was even larger than newspapers had
predicted and shows that the house of
commons, at least, is not for change of
government which would have been the
result of adopting Mr.. Asquith's pro-
posal.
Keen Political Strategist.
Premier Lloyd George again showed
himself keen political strategist and
strong pleader for his own cause
He withdrew the cabinets plan for a
court of honor to deal with the charges
Of Maj. Gen. Maurice. which Andrew
Bonar Law on Tuesday said concerned
the honor fthe ministers. The pre-
mier made it clear that adoption OF
former Premier Asquith's motion for a
select committee to investigate the
matter would be regarded as vote
Of censure which would be followed by
the governments resignation.
Former Premier Asquith's speech was
government would take his motion fol-
Investigation by q committee - q vosl
Of censure and he had the house with
him when he rebuked Chancellor BonaI
Law for asserting that members could
Aot be found who would give a nom
partisan judgment.
Based on Maurice Figures.
The principal point of the premiers
defense was that the disputed state
ments had been based on information
furnished by Maj. Gen. Maurice's- de
partment of the war office and that
Maj. Gen. Maurice never had question
ed them while he was in daily confer
ences with the cabinet. He said that
Maurice had ceased to hold Office for
good or bad reasons"
Personal feeling between the former
prime minister and his successor was
evident and it appears to increase
progressively with each of the clashes
incident to their positions as head of
The government and leader of the op-
position.
The status of the controversy as it
now stands is virtually that the de-
fense has been heard. but the accuser
has not: Whether he eyer will be is
doubtful.
The case of Maj. Gen. Maurice is
there seems little doubt that his dis
tinguished military career has been
ended by his own action.
Premier Is cheered.
Premier Lloyd George was cheered
loudly when he made his peroration
appealing to the commoners to cease
attacks which divert the energies Of
the government from the work of the
war. He was cheered again when he
left the house.
Judging from the NEWSPAPERS. the
and while tn" present government is
much criticised. no alternative suggest
ed finds strong support.
There was a considerable amount Of
cross voting in the house on the divi-
sion, although. according to lobbyists
from mixed motives. A great majority
of the conservatives supported the gov
ernment, which also had the votes Of
more than half the liberals and the
bulk of the laborites. In the minority
nf ha lot
government and several other-liberals.
including the pacif1st section of seven
paciflsts. The lobbyist of the Daily
News says some of the liberals who
regularly supported the government
voted against them on the ground that
the issue ought not to be made ques-
tion of confidence. Most of the con-
servatives voted for the government
because they did not wish to change
accession to office Of the MARQUIS Of
Lansdowne and Arthur Henderson.
thereby giving a pacifist complexion to
an Asquith government.
The premier's speech was received
with a good deal of admiring comment
in the lobbies.
Example of Indiscipline.
The premier, discussing Gen. Maui
rice's action, said he had ascertained
IndI MduIlCc Hou HcNcT IcpTc-
sentation to the chief of staff on the
subject.
"Yet." the premier continued. sar-
castically. this is SO important that a
select committee must be set up to in
quire into it: so important as to justify
Gen. Maurice trampling on the kings
regulations and setting up on example
of indiscipline to the whole army"
Both he and Bonar Law were anxious
for an examination of their statements
by perfectly impartial tribunal. There
was a mass of confidential documents
involved, and he maintained that a Sc
lect- committee was not the best tribunal
to Investigate facts when passions wered
The house of commons long
ago came to a similar decision when
such questions as disputed elections
were involved. Mr.. Asquith has depre-
Gated a select committee to investigate
for reasons which the
premier considered right.
Strength of the Army.
With reference to the strength of the
army the premier said:
There is absolutely no doubt that
there was a very considerable addition
to the man power OF the army at the
beginning Of 1918. as compared with
the man power at the beginning Of
1917, in France. There was a great in
,rease In the man nowAr of the army