Evening star., 1918-05-10

there until saw Mis- letter in the
newspapers. say have been treated
badly. Perhaps Gen. Maurice thought
it was his ). business ",ss, ss,.9 to approach MS
The premier favored q judicial in.
ouiry, because Judges were Accastoned
to give q short, sharp decision. Mr.
Asuuith had asked him what had hap
pened since Tuesday, to which ne re-
piled:
"Sfnce Tuesday 1t has become clear
from the statements Of the press which
support Mr.. Asquith that no decision OF
But But those who are egging on the for
mer premier, prodding him and s1g.
gesting that he ought to do this or that
to embarrass the government will go on
exactly as they have before; a.d me te sGv. 10y.
the facts in public and let the pubic
judge"
The premier said that Mr.. Asquith
spoke as II the whole press was s,s,its SUP,
had his own press, too. although ne
seemed to think that all the violent and
virulent press was that with which Mr..
Asquith did not agree. He added:
Drenched With cocoa slop."
'1 will point out that in the last two
or three years. since have thrown my
self into the vigorous prosecution OF
the war. I have been drenched with
cocoa slop." -.
"rhe cocoa press" is the Daily News
group Of newspapers. controlled oy
ouakers. formerly the premier's strong
Il wonder If it is worth WHILE" the
premier continued. Ito make another
appeal to all sections Of the country.
phsss pssdns afs
enough for any ministers to do their
work fighting this war. We had months
Of controversy over unity OF command.
controversy. National unity is threat
ened; the unity Of the army Is threat
ened.
1--WE have been occupied in hunting
up records minutes. letters. interviews.
raking up what happened over d whole
twelve months in the war cabinet. And
this at such moment!
II have just returned from France,
where the generals were telling me how
the Germans were silently preparing
war These things are happening now.
They are asking me for certain help. I
have brought home q list of things they
want done, and I wanted to attend to
them.
try-the fate of which is in the balance
now and in the next few weeks-I beg
and implore that there should be an end
to this sniping."
Asks Government to Quit.
Lord Hugh Cecil. member of the privy
council, said the premier had made a
brilliant speech that was more effective
as an attack on Gen. Maurice than as a
defense of the government. He appeal
ed to the government not to oling to
office, but when convinced that they
could not command q great body Of the
national support, without which any
government is useless in time of war,
they should resign and SO enable 1t to
be seen whether a stronger government
could not be formed.
After he had spoken q few minor
members made brief remarks. when.
amid cries Of "Divfde!' CLOSURE was pro-
posed and accepted.
Immediately after Mr.. Asquith's mo-
tion was rejected the premier left the
house, being loudly cheered.
Mr.. Asquith, in putting his motion,
said neither he nor his colleagues had
been concerned in the composition or
publication Of Gen. Maurice's letter. If,
as he saw, the government intended to
state the facts. 1t would be anticipating
the conclusions 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 beer
fa inf n rfed IN fhia matter and hot