The herald., 1895-06-23
Bringing About a Ministerial
Crisis in Britain
HOW A DUKE WAS FOOLED
rendered His Resignation TO Help a
Cause
A;Secret Meeting Of the Cabinet Held and 1t
Is Thought the nembers Have
Decided to Resign


LONDON. June 22.-The true story OF
the determination of the Duke of
Cambridge to resign his place as COM
mander-in-chief of the British army an
nounced in the house of commons yester-
day by the secretary Of state for war,
Campbell Bennerman, yesterday after
noon throws new light upon the subject.
There has long been a strong agitation
against the duke and the government. it
appears, acting on the principle of ex
pediency, caused it to be known that it
would materially assist the government
il the duke would offer to resign.
Consequently the duke, not suspecting
that mis- otter would be accepted. sent in
his papers to the queen. The latter
handed them to the government unaer
the i'm preston that they would be re-
turned: The government however, &C
cepted the papers as definite resigna-
ton and Campbell Bennerman made the
announcement to the house, which was
the last thing expected or desired either
by the queen or the Duke of Cam bridge.
When the cabinet adjourned for lunch
no decision had been reached regarding
its resignation. The ministers met again
at o'clock.
In view of the fact that when the cabi-
net adjourned for lunch no decision had
been reached regarding dissolution, The
impression prevailed that nothing def
mite would be known until Monday, when
a statement will be made in the house of
commons. Shortly after the council broke
up at 80 Postmaster General Arnold
Morley and Campbell Bannerman were
summoned to confer with Lord Rose
berry. This started rumors that the min
listers will finally decide to resign and
cast upon the opposition the responsible
ity of the government, and make the
select a tie for the dissolution of parlia-
ment.
The cabinet rose at 5 AS p. m. The de-
cisiun arrived at is net known. At the
close of the meeting Premier Lord Rose
berry started for Windsor Eto inform the
queen of the decision of the minist RS.
which will not be announced until Mon
day. There is a strong impression the
cabinet has decided to resign.
The Liberal organ, the Speaker. de-
scribes the action of the Irish members
regarding the Cromwell statue bill as a
display OF childish bitterness. and says
there was MOI question Of erecting the
statue an approval OF Cromwell's Irish
policy.
In many other ways it is claimed the
Irish members helped about the coming
general election, which. 1T is asserted,
they themselves are so -unprepared for,
and which, according to general opinion.
will surely result In the return of the
Unionisls to power and make it impossi-
BILE to pass home rule measure for long
time to come.
An aumsing incident, related by Mr..
Henry Labouchere. illustrates the un-
looked for character of the crisis in pari-
lament. Mr.. Labouchere and Sir William
Harcourt met on the terrace of the house
and Sir William said jokingly to MI. La
bouchere.
How dull the day has been without
crisis. How IS 1t you lave not provided
one?''
Mr.. Labouchere replied that he did not
know how to get up crisis on the army
estimates, when the bell rang announcing
They went in together and that division
has been followed ny the most serious
crisis that this government as yet has had
to face.
defeat of this latitude would have
been easily surmountsd had not the
bad way all round of late. 1t certainly
much hastens, if it does not instantly
precipitate general election.
NEW YORK, June pa special to
the World from London says that 1t is a
requirement of official etiquette that
upon resigning q minister shall give no
hint of such intention until it has first
house of commons. But there is pract-
cally no doubt that tho Rose ebery govern
ment, after a.)cabinet council of five
hours, determined to :esien and that
Lord Rosebery, who had already been
commanded to dinner at Windsor seized
the occasion to surrender his Office 1t is
also the custom of the prime minister TO
recommend to her MAJESTY his successor.
Lord Rosebery may name Lord Salisbury,
Mr.. Balfour or the Duke of Devonshire.
1t is etiquete for the queen to send frs,
for the person named. If it is Lord Sal
isbury he may decline and suggest Mr..
Balfour ur the Duke of Devonshire. or
vice versa. In the other case it seems
to be the general impression that even
the Conservative party will not again risk
a poor premier anu that Mr.. Balfour will
os chosen. But either of the three or
any other Conservative may decline.
Then Lord Rosebery will retain Office
and be in stronger position than be-
fore. He has been defeated and offers the
opposition control of the government;
they declined therefore to confess that he
has the real majority as representing
the effective lower house.
II a Conservative leader accepts there is
no real DOUBT that he will find a majority,
even il small, against him. He cannot
dissolve parliament until the supplies
have been voted nd Liberal majority
~I. A r.