New-York tribune., 1900-10-18

Copyright 1900: BY The New-Tork Trfbune-]
[BY CABLE TO THE TRIBUNE.l
London. Oct 1S. 6 a. m-The rumor mongers
are again reconstructing the Cabinet and put
ting their favorites where they wish them to
he Lord Salisbury is most reticent and de-
nberate and there is only one associate whom
he consults. This is Mr.. Balfour who in due
time viii succeed him. Reports that Lord Sails
bury viii consult the Cabinet respecting changes
which may be requisite excite ridicule among
the politicians. They assert that the Prime
Minister viii not hold an inquest Of this kind
nor make any changes hastily. The Admiralty
will be the first vacancy 10 be filled, as Mr..
Goschen insists upon being relieved at the ear
lest possible day. But the War Office will re-
main under Lord Lansdowne's control until
Lord Roberts's return. The best informed men
CO not look for the immediate reorganization of
the Cabinet. but expect that changes will be
made gradually, and that the process will not
be completed before February.
Veterans among the military officers are not
convinced that Lord Roberts will have the ag-
gressive force required for radical and sweeping
reforms in the army. They assert that he will
take an optimistic view Of the condition Of the
service and try to smooth things over and follow
the lines Of least resistance. Stern. unbending
reformers insist that Mr.. Chamberlain and Gen
eral Kitchener are the only men who can be de-
pended upon 10 turn the service upside down
and take the roof off the War Office. Officers
IN the service do not favor the appointment
Of either Mr.. Chamberlain or General Kitchener.
They prefer q more flexible successor to Lord
Lansdowne Mr.. Baron, when he was in Lon
don the champion of Australian Federation
made no secret of his preference for Mr.. Cham
berIain as the English statesman who could
render the greatest service to the cause Of I'm
periaI Federation. He expressed the belief that
Mr.. Chamberlain. If allowed to remain for a
second terra in the Colonial Office, would propose
and carry out some pratical scheme by which
the self-governing colonies of the Empire
would have permanent representation in the
Imperial Council. Neither he nor his Australian
colleagues considered an Imperial Zollverein
practicable, but they were convinced that some
approach 10 Imperial Federation would be made
as a direct result Of the cooperation Of the
colonies Of South Africa, If Mr.. Chamberlain
remained in the Colonial Office. Members of Par
lament in sympathy with him assert that his real
constituency lies in the self-governing colonies,
which he represents more closely than any other
Englishman. and that he would be likely to get
ont Of touch with them IL he were to abandon
the Colonial Office.
Premier Laurier's declaration that the only
basis for an Imperial Zollverein is absolute free
trade within the Empire but that the time is not
ripe for its fulflment, attracts much attention
here. England has been ready for that zoll-
verein since Cobden's time. It is not by any
means certain that Mr. Chamberlain would not
be willing, as he once suggested TO a Canadian
club. 10 have free trade within the Empire. and
a revenue tariff on wool. sugar and foodstuffs
from the outside.