New-York tribune., 1918-01-24
Lloyd George Asked
For War Council

Next Mr.: Lloyd George asked for a
war council, independent of the reg
good and able men, which is Senator
Nnamberlain's Plan, but of five. This
war council was to sit daily Its mem
bers were to be relieved of Parlia
mentary and departmental duties. And
1T all urgent matters it was to be
supreme.
At first it looked as if Mr. Asouith
would accept the plan, but the negotia-
tons broke down on crucial point.
", no was to preside and direct the new
war Council? Mr. Lloyd George
plalniy, intended to do so himself Mr..
Asqulth would always be welcome
mat went without saying-but it was
assumed that on most DAYS the titular
frlne Minister would be otherwise en-
ployed. '''' e''
In words which have been echoed al
most to the syllable by your President.
Nr. Asquith declined to be responsihle
1or the war on the above terms. What
ever was to be the executive instru-
ment OF the state, he as Prime Min
ister must be the active presiding
genius, answerable to King, country.
posterity, history
When Mr.: Lloyd George insisted on
ms point. MIR. Asquith took decision
"hich, OF course, is not open to any
occupant OF the White House-he re-
signed and threw on his lieutenant
the whole responsibility for carrvins o.
on the Empire. More than one at.
tempt has been made TO bring Mr.. As.
Qulth back into the Lloyd George Cab
met. for many reasons, that would be
a great advantage to the Allied cause.
But the eX-Prime Minister considers
mat he car best serve his country bv
holding himself free to form an alter
native government if one should be-
come necessary, and, in any event, the
two-Cabinet polcy-one civil and the
other military-was not tried.
Might Have
Been Success
1t might have been q success. No
one can prove the negative.
Opinions will always differ as to
the success Of our experiment.
In some respects there is intense
concentration. In other respects under
the form of centralization there is a
muitipllcatlon of officials, of depart
ments, of orders, of forms to be filled in.
while the super ministers, without in,
innate departmental knowledge, issue
ecicts which are not always compre-
henslble to those in actual touch with
reaAtles. In Parliament the new gov
ernment Is as severely critised for
Its good as was the old government,
and mere change of machinery at the
top has not modified the fundamental
emotions Of the people which heave
and surge below Those emotions are
righteous wrath against the oppressor
"a deep determination never to accept
defeat at his hands--a curious uncer-
tainty as to the supreme sacrifices of
men and money which may still be in
store-a loathing Of war that grows
from day to day--and resolution that,
however fierce this loathing, war shall
achieve its appointed end.
When the battle seems long, people
viii always cry out for new generals
new statesmen~-new departments.
Wellington suffered thus So did Pitt
So did Lincoln. And so, by the way,
did Moses But the continuance OF
the Alliance depends not on generals,
statesmen, departments, but on the
hearts and consciences and Wills Of the
humdrum millions, with whom, l con-
fess, are all my own sympathies. What
ever happens at Paris or Whitehall or
Washington may be, and is, important.
But for the rest of us there is wisdom,
after all, in the forecast that in quiet
ness and confidence shall be our
STRENGTH