The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-06-27 00:00:00

THE MINISTERIAL CRISIS.

Up to Monday morning no material change had
taken place in the political situation, and it continued
doubtful whether Lord Salisbury would feel justified
in assuming office. Communications were still pro-
ceeding between tha leaders of the two parties. The
most contrary rumours were current, and these
formed the common topic of conversation at the
Carlton, Reform, and other political clubs, where
there was a larger attendance than usual on Sundays.
On Saturday morning Sit Henry Ponsonby, private
secretary to her Majesty, paid a long visit to the
Marquis of Salisbury at Arlington-street. During
this consultation Sir Michael Hicks-Beach arrived,
but only remained a short time. Sir Richard Cross,
Mr. W. H. Smith, and Mr. Arthur Balfour called at
noon and saw his lordship.
- Shortly afterwards a meeting of the Gladstone
Cabinet was held in the official residence of the First
Lord of the Treasury in Downing-street. All the
Ministers were present with the exception of Earl
Spencer, who had not returned from Ireland.
Although the proceedings were confidential, it is
known that the only object of the meeting was
further to consider the request made by Lord
Salisbury for assurances as to the extent of support
which his Government, if duly installed, would
receive during the remainder of the session from the
Liberal majority of the House of Commons. As the
result of the Ministerial deliberations, the Liberal
leaders, whilst repeating their desire to discourage
anything like factious opposition, have declined to
enter into so comprehensive an undertaking as they
were invited to give. It has been pointed out to the
Conservative chief that Mr. Gladstone and his
colleagues are not in a position to bind their party to
abstain from full criticism of the Budget proposals, or
to surrender entirely the opportunities constitutionally
claimed by private members for the raising of urgent
questions, or the discussion of measures proposed by
the Executive Government. A notification of the
views of the Cabinet was at once forwarded to the
Queen, and a copy of this communication was at the
same time sent to Lord Salisbury, who brought the
subject again before his principal colleagues at a
meeting which they held at half-past four o'clock on
Saturday afternoon, in Arlington-street, at the close
of which the Marquis of Salisbury sent a communi-
cation to the Queen. In view of the unsettled state
of political affairs, the arrangements which had been
made by the Liberal Ministers for their immediate
retirement from the offices connected with their
respective departments were suspended, and on
account of the difficulties which arose upon the
assurances asked from the Liberal leaders, the filling
up of the minor offices in the proposed Conservative
administration was postponed. The Marquis of
Salisbury left London on Saturday evening for his
residence at Hatfield, where he remained over
Sunday.
Mr. Gladstone left London on Saturday afternoon,
shortly after the Cabinet Council, broke up, for the
Earl of Aberdeen's seat at Mill Hill, Middlesex.