The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1918-02-20
.LLOYD-GEORGE'S
Government is
AGAIN SUPREME

London, Feb, 10, Tuesday-Premier
Lloyd eorge and his government
have surmounted another crisis and
the parliamentary waters appear to
run smoothly once more after a
weeks turmoil, stirred up by the re-
tircment of Gen. Robertson, chief of
the imperial general staff.
In the House of Commons today the
premier explained and defended the
recent reorganization of the Versailles
council with the added powers given
to 1t and his dealings with the famous
British chief of staff. There was no
proposal for a vote Of want of conf
dence. but H. H. Asquith, the former
premier, expressed regret that the ex-
plantations had not been given a week
ago. when the premier declared he
could net go into the subject without
giving information to the enemy. Mr..
AsQuith supported the right of par
liamentary criticism in such matters.
The occasion was not as stirring as
have been several other appearances
VI AL0 WCA0A PLCAA4SE bClOAO NAAS
house, when his administration has
been under attack. His speech was
detailed but guarded recital of the
proposals by which the four powers
in Versailles had arrived at the prin-
ciples of their latest form of cooper
alton. There were no oratorical pass
ages except few sentences at the
close, when Premier Lloyd-George
appealed to the country to get to-
gether in the face of a common dan
ger,
The plan finally agreed on by the
council, he said, was due largely to
tho strong logical representations
which the American delegates had
submitted in the form of a memoran-
dunn, and the premier several times
reverted to the influence that Ameri-
can policy had exercised on the con-
ference.
He paid warm tribute to Gen. Rob-
ertson and expressed the regret of the
government that it had been unable
to induce him to take a position in
which his abilities would be most
useful. He declared that their per-
sonal relations always had been cor
dial.
Mr.. Asqutth asserted the country re-
garded with deep concern the recent
enforced retirement of the govern
ment's chief naval and military advis-
ers, Admiral Jellicoe and Gen. Rob
ertson. The public and their own
professions had the utmost confidence
in these men. Mr.. Asquith added that
tirements were preceded by hostile
press campaign. The public question
ed whether these losses were COM
pensated by the retention of the Earl
of Derby in the war ministry and the
appointment as director of foreign
press misunderstanding to Wis.,
count Northcliffe, although he did not
mention his name-one whose news
papers had. conducted the press cam
paign.
There was q little alteration be-
tween the two premiers over the ques-
ton of Gen. Robertson's failure to
approve the Versailles plan. Finally
Mr.. Asquith said he did not quarrel in
the least with the decision of the Yer
saflles council in respect to its func-
tons. He took the view that the
question at issue was domestic mat
ter and supported the view that the
military representative in Versailles
should be a representative Of the chief
Of the general staff.
A majority of the morning papers
accept the statement in the house Of
commons yesterday by Premier Lloyd
George as a satisfactory explanation
and entirely approve the Versailles
agreement and consider the whole in
cident Strengthened out. Hostil,
newspapers continue to accept thu
situation They express the opinion
that no government crisis is likely tt
arise at present, although they be
lieve the government has been weak
ened by recent events
q Some of the papers that accep
readily enough the premier's state
ment and commend it, nevertheless
endorse the regret expressed by for
meP Premier Asquith that the pre-
mier had not spoken with equal clear
ness a week earlier. Several supper
the appeal of Austen Chamberlain
that the government sever its connec
ton with the press