In the Commons on Tuesday, Mr. Asquith, in reply to
a question from Captain Guest, earnestly appealed to the House to abstain from further discussion of the recruiting problem. We had reached a critical moment in the history of the war, and any suggestion of division in the country would be of peculiar disservice to the cause of the Allies. The appeal was disregarded by Captain Guest, who shortly afterwards opened a debate on the need of National Service in view of our added burdens and the wastage of our armies. He demurred to the accuracy of Mr. Asquith's figures, and criticized the attitude of the Government towards the House and the Press as unfair. Captain Guest was supported by Mr. Amery and Sir F. Banbury, while Mr. Pease and Mr. Chaplin urged that, in deference to the Prime Minister and the Government, the matter should not be pressed further. As convinced supporters of National Service, we fully appre- ciate and approve of the course recommended by Captain Guest and Mr. Amery; none the less, we agree with Mr. Chaplin that, after the Prime Minister's speech, it would have been better to keep silence—better both for the cause and the publio interest.
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