The herald., 1898-03-20
RAISES RUMoRs OF CABINET
CHANGES
BRITAIN'S FOREIGN POLICY
Will Suffer No Change Under the
Leadership Of Balfour-Observ-
ance Of st. Patrick's Day
Associated Press Special Wire


LONDON, March 19.-The interest OF
the English political world now centers
in the Marquis of Salisbury's health and
the air is full of rumors of pending
changes in the Cabinet. In addition tC
influenza the Premier Is suffering from
depression and form Of brain fag," as
friend puts it, which will render 1t i'm
possible for him to continue his present
heavy labors at the Foreign Office. 1t is
believed he will remain Premier, but the
reconstruction of the Cabinet Is prob
able during the Easter recess. The tenn
porary installment Of Mr.. A. J. Balfou1
the First Lord of the Treasury and gov
ernment leader in the House Of Com
mons as the head of the Foreign Office
exercises the minds of all parties. The
Liberal Unionists deny 1t has any signi'
ficance likely to prejudice the British po-
litical status and insist 1t is merely 6
stop-gap arrangement.
Mr.. Balfour has no special training
or liking for foreign affairs, but he Is
warmly in sympathy with his uncle's
views in regard to the present troubling
international relations, and the fact thai
he was chosen to direct the Foreign Of
flee indicates that his policy, for the
present at least, would be conducted or
the Marquis Of Salisburys lines.
1t is regarded as certain that Mr.
George N. Curzon, the Parliamentary
Secretary for the Foreign Office, will be
admitted into the Cabinet at the first
opportunity.
He has made rapid advances in the
estimation Of politicians, especially dur.
ing the past few weeks. Even his politi.
cal opponents and important weekly
papers are sounding his praises for the
skillful manner in which he has handled
ticklish questions in the House Of Com.
mons.
ST. PATRICK'S DAY
st. Patrick's Day was generally cele-
brated on Thursday last here. The
shamrock was to be seen on all sides and
lat the Birmingham Assizes, the Lord
Chief Justice, Baron Russell Of Killo-
wen, appeared on the bench with sprie
Of shamrock pinned to his robes. The
Duke Of Cannaught, escorting the Ouch
ess Of Connaught, who opened the Irish
Industries sale at Lansdowne House
London, had bunch Of shamrock in his
buttonhole and Rear Admiral Lord
Charles Beresford and other Irish men,
bers of Parliament Of note all sported the
emblem.
At Dublin the principal event Of the
celebration Of st. Patrick's Day was the
trooping Of the colors in the Castle yard
Lord Roberts Of Kandahar. the Com
mander in Chief Of the forces in ireland
commanding the troops, which went
through the evolutions brilliantly before
the Lord Lieutenant Of Ireland, Ear
Cadogan and a distinguished party, in
cluding the Duchess Of Manchester ant
the Marquis Of Ormonde, all displaying
clusters Of shamrock.
In London the day was observed at the
guard mount at st. James Palace, where
the band played Irish airs, and brillian:
crowd attended the Irish Industries sale
at Lansdowne House. The list of patron
esses included almost all the royal fam.
lily. Ladies Lansdowne, Waterford, Duf-
ferin, Blandford and Fingall were among
the indefatigable saleswomen.
THE IRISH QUESTION
Mr.. John Redmond the Parnellits
leader. has adopted very clever tactics
to force hearing on the subject of Ire
lands overtaxing in the House Of Com.
mons. He has put down his motion
about the financial relations between
Great Britain and Ireland, in which mat
ter he is acting as spokesman for all sec
tions of the Irish members for the even