The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-05-10
Premier in Commons Complete
ly Vindicates Self.
Asquith Said Little To Con-
denim Leader.
PERSONAL FEELING APPARENT
Case of General Maurice Now in
3 Army Hands.
Lloyd George Loudly Cheered
for Speech.

London, May 1O.-The QUICK ana
successful manner in which the Lloyd
George ministry in the house of COM
mons yesterday dealt with an I'M
pleasant incident which had caused
more political bitterness than any
preceding chapter of this troubled
administration, was brought about by
sudden change of tactics on the
oart of the cabinet.
premier Lloyd George again show
q himself a keen political strateSist
and strong pleader for his own
cause. He withdrew the cabinets
plan for a court of honor to deal with
the charges of Major General Maurice
which Andrew Bonar Law on Tues
cay said concerned the honor of the
ministers
The premier made it clear that
adoption of former Premier Asquith's
motion for a select committee to in
Vestigate the matter would be re-
garded as a vote of censure which
would De followed by the governments
resignation.
Mr.. Lloyd George detailed in
burning speech his version of the con-
troversy which Major General Maui
rice began. The debate was brief and
the premier's explanation was its dom
mating feature.
sThe cabinet rode safely over the cri-
sis by vote of 293 to 100. The ma
jority was even larger than newspa-
pers 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 proposal.
Asquith Said Little.
Former Premier Asquith's speech
was short. He expressed surprise that
the government would take his mo-
ton for investigation by a committee
as vote of censure and he had the
h. -.
Chancellor Bonar Law for saying that
members could not be found who
could give non partisan judgment.
The principal point of the premiers
defense was that the disputed state
mentS had been based on information
furnished by General Maurces de-
partment of the war office, and that
Major General Maurice had ques-
toned them while he was in daily con-
ference with the cabinet. He said
that General Maurice had ceased to
hold office "for good or bad reasons"
Personal feeling between the for
mer prime minister and his successor
was evident and it appears to in
crease progressively with each of the
clashes incident to their positions as
head of the government and leader of
the opposition. The status of the
controversy as it nov stands is vir-
tually that the defense has been
heard. out the accuser has not
What for Maurice Now
The case of Major General Maurice
is in the hands of the army council
and there seems little doubt that his
distinguished military career has been
ended by his own action.
sfPremier 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 country is tired of
parliamentary strife and while the
present government is much criticised
no alternative suggested finds strong
support.
There was a considerable amount
of cross voting in the house on the
division, altho, according to lobbyists,
from mixed motives.
"a great majority of the conserva-
tives supported the government which
also had the votes of more than half
the liberals and the bulk of the labor
ties. In the minority were the As
quith members of the late government
and several other liberals, including
the pacifist section of seven pacifists.