The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-02-14
BRITISH PACIFISTS MOVE FAILS:
THREATENING OBSTACLEPASSED
Parliament Dissatisfied With Conduct of War; of Com
mons in No Mood to Force Change Governmen-Atmos
phere Highly Chsrged-Repington Affair Sensational

London, Feb. 13 (Wednesday).-Th,
government tonight successfully over
came tho first obstacle threatening III
existence when an amendment pro
posed by Richard Holt, which the min
'sters had made question Of conf
dence, was rejected in the house Of
commons by the very substantial ma
jorIty of 49,. The Holt amendment
expressed regret that continued mill
tary effort is to be the only immediate
task OF the government. IL was sun
ported mainly by pacifsts. The event
shows that however dissatisfied parIia i.
ment may be with the government
conduct Of the war the house Of COM
mons 10 in no mood yet to force a
change in the government.
1t was in highly charged atmos-
phere that the house met TODAY. First
came the sensational announcement
that Col. Repington. military CORE
spondent of the Morning Post, was to
be prosecuted in connection with dis
closures concerning the Versailles
conference. Col Repington has been
stout champion of Field Marshal
Haig and Gen. Robertson against al
legged ministerial endeavors to dis
credit or shelve these officers. An ar
ticle by Col. Repington early in the
war revealed shortage of high ex-
plosives and indirectly aided in reme-
dying that shortage. Should his trial
be held in public it should prove of
intense interest but it is believed it
will be held in secret.
Send Verbal Shafts at George.
Verbal shafts were directed at Pre-
mier Lloyd George again today from
various quarters of the house. Her.
bert Samuel, former secretary for
home affairs, voiced the opinion of the
governments shortcomings prevailing
In discontented section, Of the house
of commons. He suggested the war
cabinet was war weary and should be
aided by special councils dealing both
with war and home affairs.
Andrew Bonar Law, chancellor of
the exchequer, and Arthur j. Balfour,
foreign secretary. came to the assist
ance of the hardly,pressed premier. |
Mr.. Bonar Law produced statistics |
with the view Of disposing of charges |
against the government of failing to |
carry out promises with regard to |
shipbuilding, food and other matters. |
Like the premier yesterday, he chal- |
lenged the house to change the gov
ernment f 1t no longer had confidence
in it's policy.
Secretary Balfour strongly supported
the premiers view concerning the
speeches of Emperor William. Chan
cellor Won Hertling and Count Czernin,
saying they gave not the slightest in
dication of an approach to the allies
war aims, but rather gave the impress
sion that three years of war had pro-
duced no change in Germany's mill
tary policy. His speech undoubtedly
had a great influence on the house.
and although the debate continued. a
great many members left the chamber
when he concluded. The vote was
taken in a comparatively thin house.
Study League of Nations.
The debate in the house was closed
BY Lord Robert Cecil. minister OF
blockade. Contrasting the demands of
President Wilson in regard to Bel
yium and a league of nations with the
encmy's attitude on the sam ques-
ion. he said that Chancellor Won Hert-
ing proposed to leave consideration of
/ league until peace had been con-
luded.