New-York tribune., 1918-02-14
Enemies Come Out
In Open Attack
General Robertson Not
Dismissed, but Nav
Leave His Post,
Says Report

LONDON, Feb. 13.-The Llovd Ceorc
government won clean cut victor,
over the hostile group in the Hons.
" commons and showed the weakness:
Oh 'he peace movement TODAY when
resolution adversely criticising the de-
c's1ons OF the recent Versailles inter.
Aimed conference was defeated NV
vote of 159 to %.
Lord Hugh Cecil had declared that
tne adoption of the amendment would
i, involve the resignation of the covern-
ment. way so'e'"-
lhe minority voting against the gov
ernment was composed mainly of rao;
ns's. The resolution was an amend
meht TO the address of the Premier in
reply to the speech from the throne
introduced by Richard Holt. Radical
member of the Hexham Division of
northumberland 1t expressed regret
'9at IN accordance with the decisions
OF the Supreme War Council at yer-
sallies, prosecution of military effort
Is to be the only immediate task of the
government"
another amendment expresses re-
gret that action has not been taken
against newspapers which have nuh-
llshed attacks OH individual Officers of
hlgher commands.
IN the course of the debate Lord
h0oeft Cecil announced that the Brit
ish government was giving great Al
lehtlon TO aSs4eagae Of sfas,s,rs 10
auaed that he himself had prepared a
scheme for it.
Balfour Backs Premier
Arthur J. Balfour, Secretary for For
eisn AHa1rs, speaking in the debate,
supported the Prime Minister, and con-
senaed that even President Wilson, so
Tar as ne was aware, did not profess TO
md definite formulated propositions in
Count Czernin's speech.
II was misunderstanding, he said.
10 assume that the recent Versailles
lnter-Allied Council had to deal with
diplomatic and political issues = its real
business was military.
- Ihe governments view" added the
secretary, rs that the attitude of the
oentra! Powers shows that for the mo-
ment diplomacy is entirely out of court
1t was the Central Powers who banpcd
the door and by the mouth of the
chancellor and the Kaiser proved that
they are as far removed as three wears
ago from accepting the ideals to which
PRESIDENT Wilson has given classica,
expression"
Mr.. Balfour said he felt bound to
say that the conclusion the Versailles
Council had reached was a correct one
and that no glimmcr of peace dawning
on the horizon was to be derived from
the Won Hertling and Czernin speeches.
lo
extracting from the more pacific of the
two speeches anything that might be
regarded as satisfaction of the Allied
war aims?
ember-Presiden Wilson did.
Mr.. Balfour, continuing, admitted
that President Wilson saw tenderer
tone and softer atmosphere in Count
CZernin's statements.
president Wilson was amply iusti-
ned" Mr.. Balfour said. ain dwelling on
the difference IN tone, but when YOU
leave the tone and come to formulated
cehnlte propositions YOU will not find
them in Count Czernin's speech. and .s
Tar as am aware President Wilson did
not profess to find them
Rumor Military Rupture
During and after the debate in the
House of Commons the lobbies teemed
With rumors The sensational tall
centred mainly around the possibility
II military designations and a minis
erlal CRISIS, but the lobbies eventual
y were .emptied without any of the
'umors beng substantated.
Inc morning newspapers reproduce
ome of these stories. "The Daily
Jews" says those in high places in
he House Of Commons believe thar
N Monday night the government nut
ressure upon General Sir William
sobertson, chief of the Imperial Cen
raj staff, with a view to inducing him
o resign, the intention being to re-
lace him by Major General Sir Henry
Vllson, the British representative at
he Versailles council General Rob
rtson resisted the pressure, the news
aper adds, and the government ON
uesday was considering removing
i'm.
Samuel Launches Attack
In his remarks in the Commons. the
'Tmer home Secretary, Herbert Sam
Ell, criticised the governments han
ling of home affairs. Regarding man
over, ne said Great Britain stood in
lrtually the same position as She did
december, 1916. With respect to
'od, the government had a somewhat
etter record, but, he asserted, the in
,eased production of food was only 4
er cent net, of which per cent re-
ted to Ireland.
me situation as to food control. he
,ciared, was very far from satisfac.
ry, and every one knew of the OK.
eme shortage of meat, butter. mar
lrine and other products. Further
e promises of the Premier as to shin,
hiding IN 1917 did not square with
e results. There was only half Of the
crease estimated by the Shipping
,ntrolier.. and only one-third of that
tImated by the Premier.
me last subject on which he wished
criticise the policy of the govern
ent was fnance. During the mast
urteen months there had been an in
ease IN the daily national sapendi.