. Mr. Asquith's. reply was exceedingly powerful. After vindi- cating
the policy of "unmarried men first" by a quotation of two verses from the delightful ballad describing Henry V.'s system of recruitment, he dealt with the attempt that has
been made to poison the minds of working men against the Bill by suggesting that compulsion will be applied to the world of commerce and industry. Mr. Asquith noted that Sir John Simon had made hints in this direction, and said that his late colleague must have known that nothing was farther from the intentions of the framers of the Bill than that it. should be used, or should be capable of being used, for such a purpose. So important is the matter that we quote the Prime Minister's words verbatim :—
" I am sure he will accept my statement—he knows it to be absolutely true—and I hope not only members in all quarters of the House, but the vast mass of our fellow-countrymen who are engaged in industrial pursuits will accept, as I believe they will, that assurance. I agree it is most important to see, whatever may have been the intentions, and are the intentions, of the framers of the Bill, that it will not have that effect."
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