In the House of Lords on Tuesday Lord Derby stated
that, - after strongly advocating Sir William -Robertson's claims, he had offered to resign, but had agreed to retain office, at the request of the Prime Minister. Lord Curzon disclaimed all knowledge of the "alleged confidential relationships" between Lord Northcliffe and -the Government. With regard to the Versailles Council, Lord Clurzon admitted frankly that "to a certain extent it might be said to be a system of divided control," but the division of authority would be less Bedeus than it would-be if the British Military Adviser at Versailles had to refer every question to Whitehall. Sir William Robertson had declined to remain with the General Staff because - "ho could not accept responsibility for executive aotion which was not his own." Sir Douglas Haig's position was unaffected. "The only difference was that the military authorities in Paris would have at their disposal troops from the Allied forces which in certain contingencies they could either add to the British forces in France or send anywhere that they might be ,required."
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