The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-12-10
Members of the Herschell Currency
Commission May Recommend
Such Action.
At the Same Time They Will Op-
pose Further Free Silver
Coinage
Surprising Developments in Political SEN
tiMent In England--Failure OF the
Brussels Conference Assured.
Copyright 1892 by the Associated Press.

Copyright 1892 by the Associated Press.1
LONDON, Dec. 9.-Letters from the British
delegates to the Brussels conference an
nounce their return to England next week.
They will oppose whatever requests the
American delegates may make in regard to
prolonged adjournment. representative
of the Associated preas has authority from
high source to state that the official dele
gates Sir Charles Rivers Wilson and Sir G.
Fremantle, deputy master of the British
mint, do not expect that the conference
will be resumed after adjournment and
that Bertram Currie will decline to return
to Brussels. In the meantime. Baron Her
sohelPs India currency committee, which
adjourned without date until the Brussels
conference should have ended, has resumed
sitting and is taking evidence of experts.
Members of the committee seem strongly in
favor of the adoption of gold coinage in
India, and concurrent cessation Of the
free coinage of silver. What chiefly
prevents an early determination of this
policy is the uncertainty prevailing among
members regarding the action of the Amer
loan govern ment, as risk of paralysis of
Anglo Indian trade would be increased ten
fold under repeal or suspension of the sill
yer purchase act. The committee has
strong reason to await developments in th 10
United States. Currie is among the minor
ity which seems ready to risk everything by
a prompt declaration in favor of gold.
A representative 10 of the Associated press
has reason to state that apart from the
protests of Anglo Indian banke rs, leading
single standard experts have advised the
committee against such radical change in
Indian currency. The Indian government
also would prefer that the committee pre-
sent such report to parliament as will be
tAntamount to n recommendation that the
existing system be left untouched.
Questioned by the Indian Currency asso-
citation as to whether it would take meas
ures to protect its currency in the event of
the failure of the Brussels conference, the
Indian Rovernm mentn to-day declined to
give assurance on the subject. The reply
further states that the government cannot
recon mend that the secretary for India
stop the sale of council bills below rates
now current. Pending decision by the
Herschel committee, the Indian Currency
association thought to steady its position
by getting the Indian government to prom
ise not to sell council bills below a fixed
ratr. The government however prefers to
retain complete freedom of action.
The annual conservative caucus known
will open Monday at Sheffield. Party man
ayers who resisted the c!amor of the rank
and file for protectionist platform, have
been obliged to give way. Though at
heart protectionists, the leaders fear the
adoption of protection as a definite party
plank would enable the liberals to sweep
the country at the next gen.
eral election Even a declaration
in favor of fair trade was deemed
dangerous. Eventually, however. the feel
ing displayed at the agricultural confer
ence and now pervading the party COM
pelled the central executive to accept the
resolutions of rotectionists in spirit,
though yelled liz form. One of the resolu-
tions that will be submitted to the caucus
declares that free trade is against tina best
interests of the working classes of Great
Britain he general expectation is that
the caucus will support reciprocity prin-
ciples. I he rapidity with which protec-
ZIONIST ideas have become resurgent is the
greatest political phenomenon of the day.
Balfour will probably tone down the pro
tectionist tendencies but will renew and
accentuato declarations in favor of bi.
metalllsm, which promises to be among the
leading icks of the conset vative game.
Court at Windsor is frightening up under
unwonted current dinners and receptions
given to n long list of successive guests at
the castle. The queen shows buoyancy
of spirits unknown in her for many years.
1t is reported that the queen has author
lied Lady Blandford, first wife of the duke
of Marlbot ongh. to assume the title of
duchess of Marlborough. This action could
not nulify the light of the dukes second
wife to the title of duchess. but of the
queens opinion of the position of his first
fa