WAR MEMOIRS OF DAVID LLOYD GEORGE 1917

212 WAR MEMOIRS OF DAVID LLOYD GEORGE
It was a disconcerting letter to receive from the First
Lord of the Admiralty in my own Ministry. But despite this
warning, I obtained the support of the Cabinet for the resolve
to proceed with legislation to enact the recommendations
of the Conference. The fact that only a hundred members
could be found to sign a protest, proved that five sixths
of the House of Commons (including a majority of the Conservative
Party) were in favour of action on the lines of
the Speaker's Conference.
On March 26th, the War Cabinet considered the issue,
and resolved to go forward with the proposals including
Women's Suffrage in spite of the formidable opposition which
had developed amongst their supporters. We decided to
recommend the House of Commons to adopt the Speaker's
Report on Electoral Reform, and to introduce a Bill to carry
it out, subject to the following exceptions:
(a) The question of Women's Suffrage, which should be
included in the Bill, but as to which amendments should be
left for decision by Parliament in accordance with the views
of Members, without putting on the Whips;
(b) The question of Proportional Representation which
the Speaker's Conference should be invited to reconsider.
Meantime it was clear that, whatever decision the House
of Commons should reach in regard to the proposals of the
Speaker's Conference, it would not be possible to carry legislation
providing for a new electoral Register, and effect the
compiling of such a Register, in time to elect promptly a new
Parliament, if the existing House were dissolved on April
30th. So on March 27th, 1917, a further "Parliament and
Local Elections Bill" was given a first reading, for the purpose
of extending the life of Parliament until November 30th,
1917. This was duly carried in the course of April. I may
here anticipate subsequent developments by saying that two
further reprieves of a similar nature had to be secured for