27 NOVEMBER 1915, Page 3

The alleged ambiguity in Mr. Asquith's statements on recruiting under

Lord Derby's scheme has been satisfactorily removed, as we felt sure it would be. If less fuss had been made by over-captious critics there would have been no check to recruiting. Speaking at Edinburgh on Thursday week, Lord Derby said he could find no discrepancy in Mr. Asquith's statements. The original pledge held good. Lord Derby gave his personal word that absolute faith would be kept with the married men. Speaking at Glasgow on the same day, he said that the completion of his scheme would be postponed from November 30th to December 4th. The figures could not be made up before December 11th. Canvassing could proceed till that date. As though to put the whole matter still further beyond doubt, Lord Derby and Mr. Asquith exchanged letters on November 19th. Mr. Asquith then fully assented to Lord Derby's reading of the pledge that married men who have enlisted under Lord Derby's scheme will not be called upon unless "the vast majority" of unetarred bachelors offer themselves. If the bachelors fail, the Government will propose compulsion, and if a Bill for compulsion is not carried, the married men who have enlisted under Lord Derby's scheme will be released from their pledges. Nothing could be plainer iu a case where mathematical precision is manifestly impossible.