In the debate on the Address, Mr. Asquith, after remarking
in regard to peace talk that what the German Emperor said in his bombastic telegrams was probably not what the German people really thought, asked for information as to the Higher Command. The first place among our resources must be assigned to leadership. Nothing during the past year had shaken the confidence of the nation and of the Empire in the two great soldiers, Sir Douglas Haig and Sir William Robertson. " We owe them," said Mr. Asquith, " unstinted gratitude and unwavering confidence." " There are no two men in the whole of Europe," he added, " whose military judgment I would more unhesitatingly accept." Mr. Asquith went on to ask whether the Allied War Council at Versailles, which, the Prime Minister said on November 14th, was not to have execu- tive powers, had in fact acquired them now. If it had, Mr. Asquith said, he should regard it with very great distrust. " The Chief of the Staff cannot serve two masters. He can only serve one, and that one; in our view, ought to be his own Government."
