Parliament reassembled on Tuesday, and both Houses were chiefly concerned
in defining the relations of the Government and the Opposition in view of the task before the nation Mr. Boner Law explained that there was a mistaken impres- sion in the country that the Opposition were being supplied by the Government with private information as to the conduct of the war, and that consequently they to some extent shared responsibility with the Government, and were not free to criticize. He desired to remove that impression, though, of course, the Opposition would never impede the actions of the Government in any essential matter. Mr. Asquith fully accepted Mr. Boner Law's assertion that the Government alone were responsible. They did not desire to share the responsibility, and they were prepared for all honest and patriotic criticism. They had, however, communicated to the Opposition practically day by day a good deal of informa- tion about diplomatic and other affairs. He cordially acknow- ledged the helpful attitude of the Opposition. Answering the remarks of the leader of the Labour Party on the price of food, Mr. Asquith said that the Cabinet Committee, of which he is Chairman, would complete its inquiries as soon as possible, and that the House should have an opportunity of discuasing the whole question.
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