New-York tribune., 1918-05-10

to the fact that Mr.. Lloyd Georges
statements were inaccurate.
The Premier added that he was in
daily contact with the general on war
business. They were constantly dis
cussing the question Of figures, because
General Maurice was an authority, as
Director Of Military Operations,
"What has been the result? There
have been pernicious rumors, full OF
mischief, full of harm so far as the
|. British army is concerned, that we, IN
spite of the remonstances OF Haig and
Robertson, forced them to take risk
they ought never to have taken: Does
any one suppose that Field Marshal
Haig would for a moment have ac-
cepted such responsibility
Former Premier Asquith denied that
his motion respecting the Maurice af-
fair was designed to obtain a vote Of
censure of the government, saying it
was absurd to describe it as such.
Should he find it his duty to censure
the government, he said, ne noped that
he would have the courage to do so
in direct and unequivocal form.
Mr.. Asquith said he thought it was
not the business of Parliament to in
quire constantly into the conduct of
successive phases of the war. The
House of Commons, he added, had more
than enough of such inquiries already.
He said that when he put down his
motion he thought it would be accepted
by the government. He had never yet
given an adverse vote en- any proposal
made by the government. He had en-
deavored to help the government in
the prosecution of the war and in de-
fning the great purposes of the war
and the peace for which the Allies
were struggling.
Mr.. Asquith said neither he nor his
colleagues had been concerned in the
composition or publication of General
government intended to state the facts,
it would be anticipating the conclu-
sions of any tribunal and would be
only an ex parte statement.
The former Premier said he knew
many of his friends had thought he
had been fainthearted in this matter
and that there were persons other than
his friends who thought of him as be-
ing devoured by impatience to resume
office.
81 am quite content" he added, "to
leave judgment of that kind to the
House and my fellow countrymen"
Unless an act of Parliament were
passed, he said, the tribunal of judges
proposed for an inquiry into the Mau-
rice affair would have no compulsory
powers Of any kind. He considered it
far better to adopt the familiar ma
chinery of a select committee from
the House. The governments proposal
for court of honor amounted to an
admission that an inquiry was neces-
sary and that the matters raised were
SO secret they could not be discussed
even by select committee. He asked
| hot +hnr nry,1,, on% c+s
an inquiry was necessary or that the
case could be considered without the
presentation of secret documents.
| The suggestion was made by Mr.. As
quith that an investigation be made
! by no-party committee Of five mem
bers, which probably would be able to
reach a decision that would be re-
spected by the House and the country
in two or three days.
| what is the alternative ?" he asked.
"Get on with the war!" C. B. Stanton.
Labor member, interrupted. This in
terjection was greeted with loud cheers.
Mr.. Asquith responded that the best
way to get on with the war was to
clear away misconceptions and mis-
understandings which might have no
foundation but created doubt in the
mind of every one.
! Mr.. Asquith concluded:
II suggest to the House that in the
common interest of the government,
themselves, the army, the state, the
Allies and of unhampered prosecution
OF the war. to set up a tribunal of in
qulry which from it's constitution and
power would be able to give prompt,
decisive and authoritative Judgment.
hope that in regard to some OF these
matters there has been genuine and
honest misunderstanding"
Doubted Fair Committee
Mr- Bonar Law suggested that he
knew OF no member Of the House who
was not either friendly or unfriendly
to the government and would not start
with prejudice.
Mr.. Asquith said. II am sorry to hear
the Chancellor Of the Exchequer, as
leader of this House and custodian and
trustee of its great traditions, should
think it right or even decent to sug-
gest that you cannot get FIVE men who
are not SO stepped in party prejudice
that upon Dfre issue Of fact they