New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-06-09
NEAR:THE VANISHING POINT
THE LIBERAL MAJORITY IN THE COM
MONS DOWN TO SIX.

MONS DOWN TO SIN
CLOSURE TO BE REsoRTED TO AS A LAST RE-
REPRESENTATIVE WATCHING FOR
A CHANCE TO OVERTHROW THE Gov
ERNMENr-LoRD RosEBERY's FOR
ErGN POLICY SEVERELY cRITI-
cIsED-AFGHAN MANNERS
on EXHIBITION.
London. June s-With Ministerial seats for
Inverness and Cork vacant, the Government
will meet Parliament on the reassemblng oil
that body next week with a majority Of only
six AS II IS probable that the Inverness seat
will be captured by the Llberal-Unionsts and
also possible that Mr.. O'Brien's seat for the
Northeast Division Of Cork will fan to the Par
nellites the immediate prospect Is that the
Ministry will be obliged to rely on bare ma
jority of two or three TO carry the Welsh Church
Disestablishment bill. the Local Veto measure
the IrNh Land bill and the one-man-one-vo'e
proposal in the six weeks Of the session when
remain available for actual work. Inasmuch as
a feat Of this character can only be achieved
by rushing business regardless Of the nceties
of Parliamentary rules. the Cabinet have decided
that the adoption of a programme lnVoN'"s
summary application Of closure is necessary, anu
that will be the course pursued. 1t is under
stood-in fact, il Is semi-otticially announced
that a fixed period will be allowed for debate
on each of the important measures mentioned
and that in pursuance OF this plan to expedite
business all amendments viii be ignored, now
eyer lust or important they may be. In the
natural course OF affairs. according to this pro-
cramme. not single bill on which there is any
,i,o II.,, Of
after the treatment indicated VIII be permitted
to pass the House of Lords
In these circumstances it is not to be marvellei
at that the Liberals fretting under the isno-
mny Of the position into which the party has been
led or driven. The waste Of time OF which the ma
jorsty are accused is simply unavoidable yet the
Ministerial members are working harder than
ever. They are subjected nightly TO a strain
which they cannot escape in being in prompt and
constant attendance. watching every movement
OF the Opposition in order 10 avert defeat The
LIBERAL nionist coalition. with the
assistance Of the Parnelliie faction Of the Irish
party Is continually on the alert and in readiness
TO seize the first opportunity to defeat the Govern
ment and realizing this the Liberal whips are
insisting that the members Of the party SHALL he
within hailing distance Of the House from the be
ginning until the close OF each sitting. Indeed.
they are SO exactlng that each member has be"..
given u understand that excuse for absence
Will be accepted.
As this state OF affairs has developed a feeling
nearly approaching mui.ny. especially among the
Radicals. who are not too well pleased with many
phases Of the Roseb'ry policy. tho expectation on
all sides is that the Unlonists will not delay In
taking advantage Of the situation. but will
promptly and boldly challenge the Government 10
show It's strength or weakness. Lord Salisbury.
Mr. Balf0ur AMI Mr. Chamberlain have been In
consultation within the last day or two as -
what form "A motion OF lack II confidence In the
Government shall take. II is understood that
Lord Salisbury is eager to assa Lord Rosebe-y's
foreign policy. and that he IS strongly in favor O.,
beginning the fight by raising the question Of
British Intervention in Turkey. which action in re-
gard to Armenia has had only the support Of the
sympathetic Gadstonans.
Outside OF Conservative circles the opinion Is
rapidly growing that Lord Rosebery has been
overmatchci and outclassed by the diplomacy Of
Russia and France. both In the Armenian and
japanese affairs. In his deseriion OF Lord Sails
bury's policy OF an informal bu, practical agree
ment with Germany and the Triple Alliance Tor
the friendship Of Russia and France 1t Is gcner-
ally feared that Lord Roscbery has got himself
ami the Government into an imbroglio Of the most
critical character. Indeed. II Is believed that IT
involves either diplomatic disgrace or n European
war. The opponents Of Lord Rosebcry DO not
hesitate TO attribute the bungllng Of his admins
trdfion and his plain failure In the most vital Of
the issues with which ne has had TO deal To the
bad condition Of his mental health. yet. although
his friends assert that the Premier has entirely
recovered from his recent nervous collapse. IT IL
officially announced to-day that his physicians
have advised prolongatlon OF his yachting
cruise.
Both Mr.. Balfour and Mr.. Chamberlain are Of
the opinion that the time is not yet ripe for the
Opposition 10 ask the House to decide against
Lord Rosebery and they therefore propose simply
to watch for the moment when n question may
arise from which they can snatch success. This
being the case. the next few weeks Of Parliament
VIII necessarily be Tepleie with Interest.
The more that becomes known OF the manners
and habits OF the Afghan Prince Nasrulla Khan
the less he IS liked. lie created a bad impress
sion on Thursday at his reception by the Lord
Mayor at the Gu!ldhal. the city dignitaries be-
Ing thoroughly disguised with him. When the
address Of the Corporation was read to him the
bcjeweled barbarian paid not the slightest at
tenton to It's delivery. did he make any re-
ply 10 It. The speech which was given to tho
press purporting 10 have come from him
really made by Colonel Talbot In his capacity
as Interpreter. Following this piece OF dis
courtesy the Prince gave fine exhibition Of
Afghane5e manners H. his refusal TO accept
the extended hand vf Lady Renals. tho wife II
the Lord Mayor. His department at the table
was positively matchcss AZ an example OF
swinish guttony Though the luncheon table
sOrcGd with the choicest OF viands. he Insisted
on eating only the food which had been pre-
pared for him by his MOsem cook When any
OF the mysterious dishes served 10 him failed 10
please him he would eject mouthful after mouth
full Of the stuff without the slightest regard to
its destination. His favorite page boy. who
has accompanied him through his tour. did not
80 with him 10 the Gudhall. but remained in a
GiscOnsOlatc attitude on the steps OF Dorchester
House for some time after his master had de-
parted.
II Is understood that the Chinese Government
has agreed 10 pay per cent To Russia on the
Chinese loan recently raised In Paris and guar
| nniccd by Russia. Rusaia drove a sharp bargain