The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1918-02-21
DECLARES AMERICA
UNIFIED ALLIES
Lloyd-George Says U. S. Urged
War Body Rule.
ASKS VOTE OF CONFIDENCE
British Premier Asserts Nesting of
Supreme Council With Full Pow
er Was Forced by Mill
tary Mistakes.


London, Feb 20--Premier Lloyd
George made in the house of commons
his eagerly awaited statement regard
ing the recent army changes. He said
the government was anxious to retain
the services of Gen. Sir William Rob
ertson as chief of staff so long as il
was compatible with the policy decid-
ed upon in common with Great Brit
aims allies.
The American representatives at the
Versailles war council declared with
Irresistible power and logic" for the
plan for expansion of the supreme
councils power, the premier said.
If he should show the document
submitted by the Americans, said Mr.
Lloyd-George, there would be no need
to make Il speech.
Lloyd-George demanded an immedi-
ate vote as to whether the house and
the country wishes the government To.
proceed on its present war policy. He
declared that if the vote of confidence
is not given he would quit Office.
The premier asserted that the CON
clusion reached at Versailles were the
result of very powerful representations
by the delegates of other governments,
notably the American government.
Il hesitated for some time" said the
premier, in referring to the American
representations, whether should not
read in the house of commons the very
cogent documents submitted by the
American delegation which put the
case for the present proposal. 1t is
one of the ablest documents ever sub
mitted to military conference. The
only reason why | do not read it TO
the house is that ii is mixed up with
the plan of operations"
Robertson Plan Turned Down.
General Robertson, said the premier,
suggested modification of the proposal
by making the representative at Yer
sailles deputy of the chief of staff.
The government felt bound TO reject
this suggestion. as it involved putting
a subordinate in the position of first
magnitude, which might impose upon
him the necessity of taking vital deci-
sions under instructions given him be-
fore the full facts were known.
The premier announced that Gen
Sir Henry Seymour Rawlinson had
been appointed to represent Great
Britain on the supreme war council at
Versailles.
The case is presented with irresist-
ible power and logic he added. What
happened? We altered the proposal
here and there. There was good
deal of discussion, which took some
hours. There was not single dissen-
tient voice SO far as the plan was con-
cerned"
The premier said the policy of the
government was based upon the as
sumption that the allies had suffered
in the past through lack of concerted
and co-ordinated efforts. 1t had been
decided to set up central authority TO
coordinate the strategy of the allies.
Mr.. Lloyd-George said it was essen
tial that decisions should be taken in
stantly at Versailles. Meeting separ
ately, the delegates of the respective
allies, he explained, considered their
own plan, which in each case was
identical. This plan was passed with
out a dissenting vote and accepted by
all the military representatives, the
premier said.
Would Quit II Disapproved.
If the house of commons repudlated
the policy for which he was response
Bile, in which he believed the safety of
the country depended, Mr.. Lloyd
George declared, he would quit office.
His one regret would be that he had
not greater strength and ability tOI
place at the disposal of, his country in
IT'S gravest hour.
The British commander, Field Mar
shall Haig, was present at the session
of the supreme war council, Mr.. Lloyd
George said. He drew attention to two
weak points in the proposal, which
were thereupon adjusted by the confer
ence. General Robertson was present
when the decision was reported to the
war cabinet and did not object
1t was agreed, said Mr.. Lloyd-George
that The permanent military adviser at
Versailles should be a member Of the
army council. 1t was part of this ar
rangement that the chief of the i'm
perial staff was to remain the supremd
military adviser to the government
Mr.. Lloyd-George said the country
was faced with terrible realities. III
begged the house to have done will
all controversy, adding that the gov
eminent was entitled to know wheth
err the house and the country wished
It to proceed with the policy deliber
ately arrived at.
Immediately Mr.. Lloyd-George con
cluded his speech former Premier As
quith arose and expressed the wis
that the premier's address had bee
10 N