The formation of a British coalition Cabinet was announced
on May 25, 1915, with the creation of a new office of
Minister of Munitions, to which Lloyd George was transferred
from the Chancellorship of the Exchequer. Below is given the
official list of the new Ministers and their offices. In the
third column are indicated the same offices as held under
the late Liberal Administration. The eight members of the
Opposition included in the new Cabinet are indicated by an
asterisk:
Coalition Late Liberal
Cabinet. Cabinet.
Prime Minister Mr. Asquith Mr. Asquith.
Minister without portfolio Lord Lansdowne* ----
Lord Chancellor Sir S. Buckmaster Lord Haldane.
President of Council Lord Crewe Lord Beauchamp.
Lord Privy Seal Lord Curzon* Lord Crewe.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Mr. McKenna Mr. Lloyd George.
Home Secretary Sir J. Simon Mr. McKenna.
Foreign Minister Sir E. Grey Sir E. Grey.
Colonial Secretary Mr. Bonar Law* Mr. Harcourt.
India Office Mr. Chamberlain* Lord Crewe.
War Office Lord Kitchener Lord Kitchener.
Minister of Munitions (new) Mr. Lloyd George ----
Admiralty Mr. Balfour* Mr. Churchill.
Board of Trade Mr. Runciman Mr. Runciman.
Local Government Board Mr. Long* Mr. H. Samuel.
Duchy of Lancaster Mr. Churchill Hon. E. Montagu.
Irish Secretary Mr. Birrell Mr. Birrell.
Scottish Office Mr. McKinnon Wood Mr. McKinnon Wood.
Agriculture Lord Selborne* Lord Lucas.
Works Office Mr. Harcourt Lord Emmott.
Education Board Mr. A. Henderson Mr. J.A. Pease.
Attorney General Sir E. Carson* Sir John Simon.
[Illustration: THE NEW BRITISH COALITION CABINET
EARL KITCHENER
Secretary of State for War
SIR EDWARD GREY
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
BARON BUCKMASTER
Lord High Chancellor
MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNE
Minister Without Portfolio
H.H. ASQUITH
Prime Minister
ARTHUR J. BALFOUR
First Lord of the Admiralty
WALTER HUME LONG
President of the Local Government Board
DAVID LLOYD GEORGE
Minister of Munitions
ANDREW BONAR LAW
Secretary for the Colonies
WINSTON S. CHURCHILL
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster]
[Illustration: THE NEW BRITISH COALITION CABINET
AUGUSTINE BIRRELL
Chief Secretary for Ireland
SIR EDWARD CARSON
Attorney General
THOMAS McK. WOOD
Secretary for Scotland
REGINALD McKENNA
Chancellor of the Exchequer
AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN
Secretary for India
LEWIS HARCOURT
First Commissioner of Works
WALTER RUNCIMAN
President of the Board of Trade
EARL OF SELBORNE
President of the Board of Agriculture
MARQUESS OF CREWE
Lord President of the Council
SIR JOHN SIMON
Secretary of State for Home Affairs
ARTHUR HENDERSON
President of the Board of Education
EARL CURZON
Lord Privy Seal]
_The reconstruction of the Liberal Ministry that had ruled the British
Empire for ten years was announced by Prime Minister Asquith in the
following statement in the House of Commons on May 19:_
I cannot say more at the moment than that steps are in contemplation
which involve a reconstruction of the Government on a broader personal
and political basis. Nothing is yet definitely arranged, but to avoid
any possible misapprehension I wish here and now--as the House is to
adjourn--to make clear to every one three things:
First, that any change that takes place will not affect the offices of
the head of the Government or of the Foreign Secretary. [Cheers.] They
will continue to be held as they are now. [Renewed cheers.]
The second is, there is absolutely no change of any kind in
contemplation in the policy of the country in regard to the continued
prosecution of the war with all possible energy, and by means of every
available resource. [Loud cheers.]
The third and the last point--one of great importance, not only to my
friends behind me, but also of importance no doubt to the
Opposition--is this: Any reconstruction that may be made will be for
the purpose of the war alone, and is not to be taken in any quarter as
any reason for indicating anything in the nature of surrender or
compromise on the part of any person or body of persons of their
several political purposes and ideals.
That is really as far as I can go at the moment. Nothing definite has
yet taken place. When and if an arrangement of this kind should
become an accomplished fact the House will have the fullest
opportunity of expressing itself, if it so desires, upon it. [Cheers.]
_Mr. Bonar Law, leader of the Opposition, rose immediately after the
Prime Minister and said:_
I think it only necessary to say on behalf of my friends and myself
that at the stage which this has reached our sole consideration in
taking into account what further steps should be taken will be what is
the best method of finishing the war successfully, and we shall leave
out of our minds absolutely all considerations, political or
otherwise, beyond the war; while, of course, if such an arrangement
should take place, it is obvious our convictions on other subjects
will remain unchanged, and will be settled when this danger is over.