16 DECEMBER 1916, Page 2

The Liberal Members of both Houses met at the Reform

Club on 'Friday week, when Mr. Asquith ,explained• the ,cireuseetatee' which bad led up to his ;resignation. There bad been, he said, "a Well-organized, carefully engineered conspiracy " against members of the Cabinet, It had not been countenanced in any quarter of the Liberal Party. Though Unionist members of the Miaistey had been attaoked, -the chief 'objects of attack had -been himself and Lord Grey of Falloden. They had been charged with slackness and want of heart in the prosecution o f the war. 'He was not aware that there was any fonndation for those charges. , her. Asquith thee retailed the circumstances in which Mr. Lloyd George and ho 'had exchanged letters on the composition of the War Committee. Mr. Lloyd George had proposed that the War Committee' should consist of three members, and that Mr. Asquith, though Prime Minister, should not be a member. Mr. Asquith replied that, in his opinion, the Prime Alinester must necessarily be a member. On Sunday fortnight—the first letter from Mr. Lleyd George Ilad - arrived on 'the previous Friday—Mr. Asquith teamed that hie Unionist colleagues had met that morning and decided that a change must be made. They in, fact said that if Mr. Asquith did not resign they would have- to do so.