The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-10-19
THE BRITISH CABINET
Discusses the Reopening Of the Indian
Mints &c Silver and the Situation in West
Africa-The Proposition Of Our Bimesal.
lic Commission to be Rejected


lfc COmmission TO be Rejected
London. October 16-The British
cabinet this morning held its first au-
tumn meeting at the foreign Office The
premier. Lord Salisbury. presided. II
lasted two hours. 1t is understood tha,
the question Of reopening the Indian
mints TOR the coinage Of silver was not
decided, but, it is added, the matter
was discussed and will shortly form the
subject of further communications be-
tween the chancellor Of the excheuuer.
Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, and the
United States monetary commission.
In addition to discussing the silver
question, it is understood that the cab
met ministers were in deliberation
upon the Anglo-French situation in
West Africa and in reviewing the Gre
tan arrangement.
In spite of the statement that the
question Of the reopening of the Indian
mints for the coinage of silver will form
the subject OF further communication
between the chancellor Of the exche-
quer and the United states monetary
commission, it is believed that the
British government has reached the
decision not to enter into an interna-
tfOnal monetary conference.
No more definite information can be
obtained with regard to the action Of
the cabinet, but there is every reason
to believe that the governments posi-
ton is as before stated-that it will
not enter into an international none
tary conference.
Messages received from the members
OF the American commission say they
have received no informal ton with re-
gard to the action taken at the cabi-
net council today. but they hear that
a statement will be issued next week
to the effect that the government will
make no suggestion to thes Bank of
England as TO any alteration of it's
present reserve. The government can
not in any event do more than to make
a recommendation to the bank, so the
statement that the cabinet had de-
cided that the bank should maintain
a full gold standard is correct.
The Press Association sends out the
following semi official statement to-
night: 1.-The chancellor of the exchfS-
Quer and his colleagues still retain the
position then taken, that the govern
ment cannot alter the gold standard
in the United Kingdom: but they have
at intervals consulted the Indian gov
ernment in regard to the opening of the
Indian m1pts and reply has been re-
ceived which, it is understood, is
strongly adverse to the proposal. Ow-
ing to thu difficulties raised in India
and the opposition in other quarters.
the cabtnF feel that they are unable
to give at Immediate undertaking to
reopen th6.1ndian mints. but they ap-
parently are not -indisposed to enter
into further negotiations, and it is ex-
pected that as the outcome of today's
cabinet council, the United States COM
missfoners will shortly have another in
terview with Sir Michael Hicks-Bea
and that diplomatic communications
upon the question will be continued
with the foreign powers more immedi-
ately concerned in the rehabilitation Of
silver"
In spite of the above, however, it is
generally believed that the government
has fully decided to say no to the pro-
pOsals presented by Mr.. WOlcott. Mr..
Stevenson left London yesterday for
Rome.