The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-07-25
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SALISBURY'S BIG SWAP.
GLADSTONE MAD BECAUSE TIE
HOUSE WAS IGNORED.

He Considered Heligoland Useless to
the Country, and is Pleased at the
Advantages Gained IN Africa-Never.
theless he Considers the Precedent
in the Procedure Bad One.
LONDON, July 24-In the House Of Com
mons to-day Sir James Ferguson, parlia-
mentary secretary to the foreign office,
moved that the bill providing for the ces-
sion of Heligoland to Germany pass its
second reading. In speaking to his notion
Sir James said that England had obtained
an ample equivalent for the cession of the
island. Heligoland. he declared, was useless
to England. The inhabitants of the island,
directly they knew that their present immu-
ties were secured by the agreement between
England and Germany, expressed their
satisfaction and gratefulness for the care
taken of their interests The establishment
Of proctorate over Zanzibar was not the
only qoid pro quo England had secured.
Sne had doubled her influence on the east
coast Of Africa and enormously increased
the area of her influence in the interior OF
the country.
GLADsToNE's MODIFIED PRAISE.
of the African portion of the agreement
He paid a tribute to Lord Salisbury for ths
part he had taken in effecting the agree
ment. which, he said, was conserved in a
spirit Of regard for the best interests of
England. Mr.. Gladstone. continuing,
blamed the government for not securing
beforehand an agreement with France re-
garding Zanzibar. He said it was diff
c1lt to comment on the omission with
out embarrassing the government, which
he did not desire to do. 1t was TO be re-
gretted that in one person were combined
the offices OF prime minister and foreign
secretary, as the duties of the two exceeded
the possibilities Of any human brain, unless
it possessed the powers OF Napoleon or q
Cromwell
PARLIAMENT NOT CONSULTED.
The House of Commons had never been
asked to vote cession of the territory. There
had been several cases of territory being
ceeded without the consent of the
House being asked. He could not vote
against the bill because the queen could
give Germany Heligoland, but he was not
disposed to make precedent Of a subject
of profound practical Importance In the
constitution. Therefore, wishing to WASH
his hands Of the precedent, he declined to
take part IN the discussion on the bill.
GoscHEN STANDS BY GLADSTONE.
MIR. Goschen approved Mr.. Gladstone'a
remarks with reference to Heligoland
Sir William Vernon Harcourt said that
the constitutional practice was that the
House move an address TO the crown ap-
proving the whole agreement But tho
government had introduced a bill
such as was never before
heard of. He cited precedents where ter
ritory had repeatedly been ceded in times
of peace without an act OF parliament. The
introduction of the bill had opened up an
immense question. He believed that the
government had acted through sheer igno-
rance. 1t was a mischievous and dangerous
innovation to give the House Of Lords
veto upon the foreign policy of the govern
ment, especially if the government of the
day did not happen to have a majority In
the House of Lords.
BALFOUR RIDICULES HARCOURT.
MIR. Balfour ridiculed Sir Harcourt on
being the champion Of the prerogative Of
the crown. He twitted him with being
actuated by dread of the power of the
House of Lords and said he hoped the prece-
dent now established would always be ad-
hered to, and that no cession of territory
would lie made in time of peace without
the sa ction of parliament
Mr.. Smith moved oloture on the Heligo-
land bill, but the speaker refused to close
the discussion on a question 50 important
without allowing ample debate. The de-
bate was then adjourned.