New-York tribune., 1919-10-28
Announcement in Commons
Held To Be Concession to
Reforms Long Demanded
by Press of the Empire
Irish Problem Unsettled
Introduction of Bill Post
poning the Operation of
Home Rule Act Expected

ated Press Reorganization of the
British War Cabinet and its conversion
into a peace cabinet was announced in
the House Of Commons to-day bv An
drew Bon h,r Law. He said the follow
ing had bssn invited to become mem
bers of the new body:
The Lord President of the Council.
the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland or the
Chief Secretary for Ireland, the Lord
Chancellor, the Home Secretary, the
Secretaries OF State for Foreign AZ
fairs, the Colonies, War and Air and
India, the First Lord of the Admiralty,
the Secretary for Scotland, the Presi-
dent of the Board of Trade, the Minis
ter of Health, the President of the
Board of Agriculture. the President of
the Board of Education, the Ministers
of Labor and Transport, the Lord Privy
Seal and George Ncol Barnes (min-
lster without pOrtfolio).
Long Sought Reforms Granted
Last weeks defeat in the Commons
and the seriousness of the country's
finances revealed in the revised esti-
mate submitted to Parliament to-day
seem to have induced the government
to yield certain reforms long demanded
by the press.
Foremost among these demands was
that for a return to cabinet responsi-
bllty and also more regular attend
ance of the prime minister in the
House of Commons. The former APP
parently has been granted in the re-
turn to the peace time form OF cabi-
net. whereby all the ministers will be
responsible for decisions taken, IN
stead of the few ministers forming the
war cabinet.
With regard to the second demand,
an inspired statement was issued to-
night to the effect that as soon as his
duties in connection with the peace
conference are ended. the Premier will
revert to his old practice Of personally
answering qquestions in the House. He
Will begin by doing this once weekly,
and later may attend on two days.
Economical Policy Promised.
The Cabinet to-day drafted mo-
ton which will be proposed by Austin
Chamberlain. Chancellor OF the Ex-
Exchequer, on Wednesday,, that this
house, realizing the serious effects up
on the trade and industry Of the nation
OF the enormous financial burdens re-
sulting from the war, promises its
hearty support to the government in
all reasonable proposals, however
drastic, for reduction of expenditure
and the diminution Of debt"
1t is expected the debate on this
motion will last at least three days
Laborites advocate a levy on capital
and reversion to the state of all for
tunes made as result of the war
The Irish question still provides a
Cabinet may not be able to present a
satisfactory scheme in the limited time
now available. 1t is thought the gov
eminent will be compelled to introduce
q bill, again postponing operation OF
the Home Rule act, which, otherwise,
would become automatically operative
with formal ending Of the war.
Admission by the government that
Great Britain no longer is supply
ing funds or supplies to Admiral Kol-
chak and does not contemplate sup
plying General Denilsine indefinitei y
was regarded as oreshadowing further
modticationof the governments policy
toward Russia
Some reduction in plans is believed
to nave been brought tbout by the I'M
usually heavy budget for the present
year. the largest item of which is fol
military expenditure, which, it was re.
ted to-day, far exceeds earlier esti-
mates.
Women Indorsed for Lords
The Commons to-day adopted ar
amendment to the pending bill for re
moval of sex disqualiicatons permit
ting women to sit and vote in the
House of Lords. The amendment wa:
adopted by vote of III to S4
The approximate cost of the recen
railway strike to the British Treasur,
was s50,000,000, according to an an
nouncement made by the Chancellor O
the Exchequer. The Chancellor addet
that the publicity campaign against tn,
strike cost the government more thar
s32 600
The alien restriction bill on whicl
the government suffered defeat las
week, was amended to-day in the Com
mons according to the government
desire. An amendment offered by Nh
Bonar Law, the government leader
was adopted unanimously.
The governments defeat last Thurs
day was over amendment intende,
to modify the restriction withholdin,
} pilotage certificates from all aliens
the government desiring in the mail
to make it inapplicable to numbe
Of French pilots who were permitte,
privileges in British ports in exchang