New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-05-30
TIE UHITSUNTIDE RECESS.

TIE W HIIO " IDE hENLor.
A brief interval for reflection comes to the
Gladstone Ministry at a critical stage of its
political fortunes. At the Easter recess the
Franchise bill had been carried to its second
reading with a majority of 100 after brilliant
speech by the Premier, the votes of censurc had
been successfully resisted, and the London
Municipality bill had been introduced by Sir
William Harcourt under the most favorable cir
cumstauces At the WhitSuntide recess the
Franchise bill is still in Committee of the Whole
House with the most dangerous divisions yet
in reserve; the Governments majority on the
Egyptian question has been cut down from ~
to % and neither the London bill nor ANY
other Ministerial measure has been advanced
The Grand Committees have done very little
work, and promise to be only of slight assist
ance during the remainder of the session. The
Committee on Law has not yet taken mp the
Municipal Corrupt Practices bill; and as the
Merchant Shipping bill has been practically
withdraw, there is no large measure to be laid
before the Committee on Trade. Of the leglsla-
tive proposals of the Queens Speech, the Fran
chise and London bills are still before the Com
mons. but one of them is doomed to defeat i'll
the Upper House and the chance of steering the
other successfully through Committee is by no
means promising. Domestic legislation
languishcs in consequence of the Ministry's en-
barrassments in Egypt. The country is prcoc-
cupied with what is going on in the Nile Valley
and dissatisfied with the Governments dealings
in the Soudan and with the European Powers.
The maiorities have been reduced in the Com
mons, and the Conservatives have been cmbold-
ened 10 decree the rejection of the Reform bill,
Il. Ill h,x~ hoo
possible if the Ministry had not frttercd away
its political authority By its hall-hearted policy
in Egypt.
Mr.. Gladstone was able to assure the Com
mons on the eve of the WhitSuntide recess that
the Egyptian Conference would be restricted to
discussion of the financial question. and that
no agreement would be concluded with France
without reference to other European Powers.
These declarations he had previously m ide but
never before in such positive terms. Appar-
entity the Government has been warned by pub
lie clamors that no concessions to France viii
be tolerated in England, and has suddenly
adopted iirmcr tone even at the risk OF post
poning indefinitely the meeting of the Confer
ence That engagements have been entered
| into whereby the period of occupation OF Egypt
| is restricted to a definite term and tho date OF
| evacuation Is actually mentioned Is Incredible.
| Franco may have asked for these concessions,
| but no Ministry i'll its sober senses would have
| granted the demands in the present state OF
| public opinion in England Lord Granville has
probably been too cOnciliatOry and diplomatic IN
| discussing the prclimnaries OF the Conference
! but surely his colleagues have by this time been
warned by the rising tide of public feeling and
have impaired yigor and iirmneSs to the closing
| chapter of the correspondence. Mr.. Gladstone's
pOsitiye declaration in reference TO the Confer
ence, coupled with the military preparations
making for an expedition to Khartoum, points
to more resolute aud determined action in the
| Nile countries The leisure afforded by the
| Parliamentary recess will be apt to strengthen
| this tendency When so stanch a Liberal con-
| stituency as Leeds is forced to strike out the
word wisdom " in resolution expressing con
fidence in the Premers motives and integrity,
he cannot fail to understand how strongly the
feeling of the country is running against his
| Egyptian policy.
The recess opens with curious rumor of
Lord Granyille's withdrawal from the Foreign
Office. 1t is reported that he will resign his
position on the dissolution of Parliament, since
his health is failing and he is becoming in
capacitated for active work. He has been in
Parliament since 1886, and since 1913 has been
in Office whenever his party commanded ma
iority in the Lower House. This is the fourth
administration under which he has directed
English diplomacy, and as the leader of the
Liberal minority in the House of Lords
he has been under continuous strain for
many years. Although he is Mr.. Glad
| stones junior by six years, it is probable
that his health has been impaired by the ex
hausting demands made upon it by the public
service. Lord Granville's resignation while it
would bring brilliant and useful career to a
close, might be positive gain to the Liberal
party. A statesman who has grown old in Eu-
ropean diplomacy is untitled by his training
and experience for marking out the lines of
English policy in Egypt Ayonnger and less
| diplomatic Foreign Secretary would stand less
| in awe of the traditions Of the Cabinets and be
better prepared to look the facts of.the situation
| I'm the face With Sir Charles Dixie in the
Foreign Office, Liberal policy in Egypt would
speedily become practical and Ineligible.
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| D1NTJLLE And COpIIH