1917. March 19.-House of Commons. Revolution in Russia Statement by Mr. Lloyd George. Supply Ministry of Pensions Vote Report. Mr. Hogge's Amendment defeated by 150 to 51.-Speech by Mr. Barnes. 20.-House of Lords. Liquor Control Board-Speeches by Lord Loreburn, Lord D'Abernon, and Lord Milner. House of Commons. Dardanelles Report Speeches by Mr. Asquith, Mr. Churchill, Sir A. Stanley at the Association of Chambers Number of Registered Electors-13,882. Mr. E. Backhouse (Ind) 596-7,045. Representation unchanged. 1910 (Jan.) (11,582). Samuel (L) Stroyan (U) 1910 (Dec.) (11,582). 6,026 | Samuel (L) 5,510 4,913 Richardson (U) 4,840 21.-House of Lords. Formal business. House of Commons. Supply-Army Estimates- War Pensions Bill read a second time- Mr. Hodge at the Association of Chambers of Commerce on Demobilisation of the Army. 22. House of Lords. Food Consumption-Speech by Lord Devonport. War Office and Farm Labour-Speech by House of Commons, Revolution in Russia Consolidated Fund (No. 2) Bill read (1) Lord Finlay on the Blockade and International Law. was "All would agree that we must be careful that the measures we took were lawful. The question of what was called a blockade was one of extraordinary difficulty. The use of the word blockade in this connection had given rise to an enormous amount of misconception. It was not really a blockade in any proper or popular sense of the term. By a blockade they understood a course in which they could, by force, prevent ships entering or leaving the sea coast of the enemy country. That was a simple matter to deal with. What we had to deal with here a ring of neutral countries which adjoined the enemy country and from which supplies might reach the enemy country. We could not treat them as if they were an enemy country; we could not declare war on a country which did what had been done by all neutral countries in the course of the world's recent history. We must proceed with the consciousness that we could not use force against any country which was not manifestly transgressing the rules of international law. Havoc had been wrought with international law, but some shreds of it still remained, and we ought not to trample upon it. We could never enter into competition with Germany in her career of barbarity." (2) Mr. Bonar Law on the Army's Need for Men. 66 Arrangements were definitely made last August, which it was hoped would give the military authorities all the men necessary for this campaign, on the scale on which it had been arranged. That anticipation has not been fulfilled. It has not been fulfilled for the simple reason that as the war proceeded the Cabinet found that the needs at home were so pressing that those of the Army in the field had, for the moment, to give way. The main ground for this change is well known to the House. It is due to the increasing severity of the submarine menace. In consequence of that the Army has not got the men which it expected to get from agriculture, and the Government, and I think every one in the House and in the country, recognises that food production has for the moment become one of our most pressing needs. In the same way the men who were expected to be obtained from various works and shipyards have not been forthcoming, because for the same reason we had come to the conclusion that it was absolutely necessary that every ship which could be put into the water should be launched, and that no man could be spared from that purpose. As a result of what has happened in that case, I think it is right to tell the House, so that it may understand the exact position, that the recruits who had been obtained since the beginning of this year have fallen short of the number estimated by no less a figure than 100,000 men." (3) Lord Bryce on the Danger of Prussian Methods. "There is a danger which threatens freedom in the demand that the State should step in and take charge of branches of industry and commerce which have hitherto thriven without such direction. This is a danger which might inspire those methods of peaceful penetration by which Germany has tried to reduce her neighbours to financial vassalage. These are Prussian methods. We as Liberals desire to preserve independence and individuality. The German people have been reduced to submission, and the ruling military caste, intoxicated with conceit at its own success, now sees the world, from Russia to America, arrayed against its arrogant aggression. We hope and look for the collapse of this system in Germany, as we rejoice at the collapse of irresponsible despotism in Russia." 1917. March 23.-House of Commons. Supply-Civil Service Estimates. Food Distribution-Speech by Capt. Bathurst. War Pensions Bill Army Annual Bill read a second time. 27.-House of Lords. Blockade of Germany-Speeches by Lord Hylton, Lord Emmott, Lord Lansdowne, and (1) Lord Finlay. House of Commons.- Consolidated Fund (No. Germany-Speeches by Lord R. Cecil and 28-House of Lords. Royal Assent to Ministry of House of Commons. -Electoral Reform - Mr. Asquith's resolution agreed to. Mr. Salter's amendment defeated by 341 to 62 (majority 279). Speeches by Mr. Lloyd George, Mr. Long and Mr. Bonar Law. 29.-House of Lords. Employment of Interned Aliens-Speech by Lord Newton. House of Commons. Military Service (Review of Exceptions) Bill read a second time by 175 to 18 (majority 157). Speeches by (2) Mr. Bonar Law, Mr. Asquith, Sir J. Simon, and Mr. Churchill. Mr. A. Chamberlain at British Empire Producers Association on Imperial Progress. (3) Lord Bryce at National Liberal Club on the Spirit of Liberalism. Deputation to Mr. Lloyd George on Women Suffrage. 30.-House of Commons, Military Service (Review of of Exceptions) Committee. Bill Oxford By-Election consequent upon the eleva- Number of Registered Electors-9,641. Representation unchanged. THE DIVISIONS OF THE MONTH. MARCH, 1917. A record of the more important divisions in March, 1917. [NOTE.-In the following list of the chief divisions in the House of Commons the number of the minority (whether "For" or Against ") in a division is always put first for the sake of convenience. The numbers given include the Tellers.] I.-NATIONAL SERVICE BILL-COMMITTEE. March 12th, 1917 (Division No. 6).-On Mr. Pringle's new clause providing that an opportunity should be given to Parliament to object to orders and regulations made under the National Service Act. For, 99; Against, 163. II. INDIAN COTTON DUTIES. March 14th, 1917 (Division No. 14).-On Mr. Barton's amendment (dealing with the Indian Cotton Duties) to Mr. Chamberlain's motion. (For terms and explanations, see page 143.) For, 127; against, 267. [An analysis of the division shows the following:- LIBERALS UNIONISTS NATIONALISTS The two Unionists in the minority were Sir Henry Hibbert and Sir John Rutherford. Of the 63 Liberals in the majority 18 were members of the Government, as were also 6 out of the 9 Labour members in that Lobby.] III. ELECTORAL REFORM CONFERENCE. March 28th, 1917 (Division No. 18).-On Mr. Salter's amendment to Mr. Asquith's motion (which asked the House to say that legislation should promptly be introduced on the lines of the resolutions reported from the Speaker's Conference on Electoral Reform) in favour of legislation "to obtain an immediate register, and to provide means of voting for those electors who are absent on naval and military service," but declaring that, "save as aforesaid, the attention of Parliament should be wholly devoted to the prosecution of the war." For, 64; Against, 343. [An analysis of the division shows the following: MONTH. In the Great War, March, 1917, has been THE THIRTY-SECOND full of great events, of which indisputably and incomparably the greatest is the Russian Revolution. About that something is said in a succeeding section, but let us say here how heartily we welcome the splendid achievement of the Russian people in bursting the bonds of an autocracy which recked nothing of the liberty and freedom of those it misgoverned. Henceforward the Allies are bound together by fresh and closer ties of sympathy, and we are confident that the New Russia will prove a far more formidable menace to German militarism and savagery than the Old did, or was ever likely to do. We rejoice unaffectedly in the re-birth of Russia as a great free nation, working out her national destiny unfettered by the reactionary and autocratic influences by which she has hitherto been bound. |