The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-06-08

Dissensions in the Gladstone Cabinet.
Although the House Of Commons has thus
fer refused to censure the Governments
Egyptian policy, 1t looks as IL Lord GRAN
vILLEs action In relation to the proposed
conference might furnish q more promising
ground Of attack. 1t Is now reported that
several members of the Cabinet mean to re-
sign unless the assent given to the French
programme Of multiple control Is withdrawn,
and group OF Liberal members, hitherto
loyal, are said to have notified the Premier
that unless such change Of front Is made
they will hnnceforth vote against him. This
pressure will perhaps induce Mr.. GLADSTONE,
who has hitherto countenanccd, IL nc has not
dictated. the abandonment OF Egypt. to
throw over the Secretary for Foreign Az
fairs. It will not be the first time that no
has made scape2oat Of o colleague, and VIC
should not be surprised to see him treat
Lord GRANVILLE as no treated Mr.. FORSTER
when it suited his purpose to reverse his
Irish policy.
Nothing certainly could be more shifty, in
efficient, and discreditable than the manage
mont Of tho British Foreign Office during tho
last year, whether 1t has been directed by
Lord GRANVILLE himself or inspired by the
Prime Minister. There have been frequent
exigencics which loudly called for the ad-
vnncement or the safeguarding Of British in
| terests, but in not single instance has the
| Government been capable Of firm, straight
| forward, and decisive action. The predomi
nant influence which England had possessed
at Pekln was obviously threatened by tho
| French conquest OF Chinese dependency,
and there was time when Lord GRANVILLE
| could have compelled reference of the
| Tonquin dispute to arbitration. But tho op-
| portunity was missed, and the treaty OF Ten-
| tain, with its fragrant discrimination against
British trade, Is the result. Again, although
| the success OF the French designs on NADIA
gascar will give England O rival tn South
| Africa and interpose m obstacle on the
| Cape route to India, and although tho Hovas,
| having been Christianzed and civilized by
British missionaries, had strong claim ON
British sympathy, nothing was done to
thwart the French plans In that quarter,
which, it Is plain, are now on the eve Of exc
cution. Neither has any serious attention
been paid to the Australian protests against
tho establishment Of French penal settle
mcnts in the New Hebrides, although the
proceedings OF the recent Sydney conference
showed that the neglect Of colonial remon-
STRANGE might lead to confederation, which
would prove long step toward indepen-
dence Still more disgracoful Is tho indiffer-
ence displayed by the British Foreign Office
to the successive occupation OF Merv and
Sarukhs. although Russia scarcely tries to
disguise her intention OF paralyzing England
by anxiety about her Indian dominions, and
thus depriving her OF any voice in the mp
proaching liquidation Of tho Ottoman assets.
These faults OF omission were sufficiently
exasperating, and no wonder the cup ran
over when 1t was announced ten days ago
that Lord GRANvILLE had yielded to the In
ordinate demands OF M. FERRY, and had con-
sented to name an early day for the with
drawal Of the British troops from Egypt,
and for transferring the control OF that ooun-
try to an International commission. Now,
the presence Of q European military force at
Cairo Is known to be Indispensable to avert
| relapse into anarchy, and every one can
sec that the removal Of English soldiers
would be promptly followed by the despatch
OF French army. That England should thus
be made the cat's-paw Of the power that loft
her to bear the brunt OF suppressirg ARABS
rebellion was too much humiliation even for
tho thoroughly dragooned supporters OF the
Government, and 1t seems, as We have said
that some of Mr.. GLADsToSE's col.
leagues are showing signs OF insubordina.
ton. 1t is doubtless the need Of con.
ciliating these refractory members Of
tho Cabinet that explains the sudden
declaration OF willingness to deal with the
redistribution OF seats during tho presen,
Parliament. Although the old Wings, a
we'll as the Conservatives, have insisted thai
this step ought to accompany an extension
Of the franchise, Mr. GLADSTONE has hitherto
refused to touch the question OF reappor
tionmcnt before tho next general election
This ground was taken out Of Difference Il
the Parnellites, who know thst II seats were
made proportional to population. fewel
would DO allotted 10 Ireland - . whole
while Ustdrs shsrs Of the Irish quota w0ult
30 coustdsrably aaymsatsd. But The PrsmisI
] ] no longer cares TO obaigs Nr. PxHxMxs sinc'