Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-02-14
LLOYD GEORGE, IN
COMMONS, WINS
OVER PACIFISTS
Meets Holt Amendment Sue
cessfully; Made Question
of Confidence
BY Associated Press

London, Wednesday, Feb. 13.-
The government tonight success
fully overcame the first obstacle
threatening its existence when an
amendment proposed by Richard
Holt, which the ministers had made
a question of confidence, was reject
ed in the House of Commons by the
very substantial majority of 131. The
Holt amendment expressed regret
that continued military effort is to
be the only immediate task of the
government. 1t was supported main
ly by pacifists.
The event shows, however, dis
satisfied parliamentarians may be
with the governments conduct of
the war, the House of Commons is
in no mood yet to force a change in
the government.
Atmosphere Was Tense
1t was in a highly charged atmos-
phere that the House met to-day.
First came the sensational an
nouncement that Colonel Repington,
military correspondent of the Morn
ing Post, was to be prosecuted in
connection with disclosures concern
ing the Versailles conference. Col
onel Repington has been a stout
champion of Field Marshal Haig and
General Robertson against alleged
ministerial endeavors to discredit or
shelVe these officers. An article by
Colonel Repington early in the war
revealed a shortage of high explo-
sives and indirectly aided in remedy
ing that shortage. Should his trial
be held in public it should prove
OF intense interest, but it is believed
1t will be held in secret.
Verbal shafts were directed at
Premier Lloyd George again to-day
from various quarters of the House.
Herbert Samuel, former Secretary
for Home Affairs, voiced the opinion
of the governments shortcomings
prevailing in a discontented section
of the House of Commons. He sug-
Sested that the war cabinet was war
weary and should be aided by spe-
cial councils dealing both with war
and home affairs.
Andrew Bonar Law, Chancellor of
the ENchequer, and Arthur J. Bal
four, Foreign Secretary. came to the
assistance 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 yes
hA oh
change the government if it no
longer had confidence in it's policy.
Secretary Balfour supported
strongly the Premier's view concern
ing the speeches of Emperor Will
liam, Chancellor Won Hertling and
Count Czernin, saying they gave not
the slightest indication of an ap-
proach to the allies war aims, but
rather gave the impression that
three years of-war had produced no
change in Germany's military policy.
The debate in the House was
closed by Lord Robert Cecil, Min
ister of Blockade. Contrasting the
demands of President Wilson with
regard to Belgium and a league of
nations with the enemy's attitude on
the same question. he said that
Chancellor Won Hertling proposed to
AStNNN tlNlOll VI IL lGdS u6 un-
til peace had been concluded.
That, he said. would not be the
proper attitude for Great Britain to
adopt. 1t was no mere phrase to say
the government was giving the clos
est attention to the subject of a
league of nations. Lord Robert Cecil
added that he himself had gone sc
far as to prepare a scheme for it and
it was mater concerning which
they must have clear ideas before
the peace conference met.
In rebutting arguments of the
pacifists, Lord Robert declared il
was useless to attempt to discuss
peace unless the enemy meant
peace. The government recognized
that its only duty was to put an end
to this war. No man of sense OF
feeling could wish it to go on longer
than necessary. He believed it could
not be said that a policy of cringing
before the German nation had met
with any great success. He added:
"If the government would not
crawl before the enemy and offer
peace on any terms, it is because
they are convinced not only that
such a peace would be repudiated
by the county. but that it would not
achieve lasting settlement"