New-York tribune., 1918-02-20

part Of the government in the case.
1--WE we're under the imprcssion," the
Premier said, "that all difficulties. con-
stitutional and technical, definitely had
been overcome by this document which
had been shown to Field Marshal Haig.
General Robertson, unfortunately. was
away at the time; otherwise he would
lave been present at the conference:
Beng under the impression that all
difficulties had been removed and that
Versailles had become mere important
as the centre, the government offered
the position to General Robertson.
Only after this occurred became
aware that General Robertson was not
willing to acQuicscc in the system and
that he took objection, not on technical
and constitutional grounds, but on mil
tary grounds, TO the system WHICH the
Versailles Council had decided unan''
mously to adopt
Praises General Robertson
Premier Lloyd George paid warm
/ tribute to General Robertson and SAID
they had parted without an unklnd
word. The government proposed to in
vite from the highest military authori-
ties suggestions as the best means Of
removing the anxiety, and that in the
scheme put forward in order to secure
concerted and combined action between
the Allies it had not done something
to impair the efficiency of the army. If
n suggestion came for making a better
arrangement from that point of view,
the government would seek to adopt it.
There were also difficulties, he said,
arising from national feeling, historical
tradition and suspicion, which might
induce the belief that one country was
trying to seek advantage for itself. All
these things hampered every alliance.
Other difficulties arose from profess
sional conservatism which hate changes
in traditional methods, trust and con-
tdence among the Allies was the very
soul Of victory and he never ceased to
plead for it. The Premier added:
Discussed Plan Fully
"We discussed and rediscusscd this
plan, with the single desire that our
whole concentrated strength should be
mobilized to resist and break the most
terrible foe that ever confronted civ
ilization. The enemy had jected the
because he was convinced the Russian
collapse put it in his power to achieve
victory and impose Prussian doml-
nance by force on Europe.
"That being so, | beg the House to
turn down all controversy and close
our ranks. If this policy deliberately
adopted by the great Allied represcn-
tatives does not commend itself to the
House, they should turn it down quick
ly and put in a government willing to
say: we will not accept it,
But One Regret
"But it must be another government.
Don't let us keep the controversy alive.
The government is entitled to know and
to know tonight the decision Of Par
lament and the nation.
"If the House repudatcs the policy
for which | am responsible and upon
which believe the safety Of the coun-
try depends shall quit Office with but
one regret--that I had not greater
strength and greater ability to place
at the disposal of my native land in
the gravest hour If its history"
~ hesitated for some time" said the
Premier, in referring to the american
read in the House Of Commons the
very cogent document submitted by
the American delegation, which put
the case for the present proposal. 1t
is one of the ablest documents ever
submitted to military conference.
The only reason why do not read it
to the House is that it is mixed up
with the plan of operations"
If he should read the document sub
mitted by the Americans, said Mr..
Lloyd George, there would be no need
to make speech.
"The case is presented with irresst-
ible power and logic" he added "What
happened? We altered the proposal
here and there. There was a good deal
Of discussion, which took some hours.
There was not single dissentient
voice, so far as the plan was con-
cerned."
The United States was represented
at the last session of the Supreme Wnr
Council by General Tasker H. Bliss.
Arthur H. Frazier, Secretary of the
American Embassy al Paris, attended
as q diplomatic officer to report the
proceedings.
Being under the impression that all
the difficulties had been overcome, con-
tinued the Premier, the government Of
fered General Robertson a position on
the Versailles council, but he was un-
willing to acquiesce in the system, OBJ
jecting to 1t en- military grounds. Cen
eral Robertson, added the Premier
then refused the post of chief of staff
with powers adapted to the position
set up at Versailles.
i"e SeneIal principle lalG down a
Versailles was agreed to whole heart
edly by everybody" he said. "Thers
was no conflict as regarded the policy
but only as to the method of giving ef
feet to it. There was agreement as t,
the policy, there was agreement tina
there must be central authority to ex
crcise supreme direction of that policy
there was agreement that nuthorit,
must be inter-Alled authority AM
there WAS complete agreement tha
that authority should have executiv,
power. The only question that aros,
was as to how that central authorit,
should be constituted. That was tn
only difference"
at was the whole issue and, in m.
Judgment, an agreement was reache,
at the conference even in regard t,
that"
The Premier proceeded to give tn
stages Of the discussions at the con
ference. Several proposals, he said
were put forward and examined care
fully. Everybody went to the confer
ence with full desire to find the bes
method and not to advocate any par
tlcular proposal.
All the other proposals, one after tn
other, were rejected until they came t
the last. The first was favored in tn
first instance by the French and Brit
L