The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-02-19
The TORIES REVOLT
GOVERNMENTS MAJORITY GREAT
LY CUT DOWN.
BAD TACTICS CAUSED 1T.
EDWARDS FIRST PARLIAMENT A
SURPRISE.

John Dillon Saw His Opportunity
and Almost Put the Conservatives
ON Queer street-Lord Cranborne
Poor Politician winston
ChurchIII's First Speech-COntends
That south African War Had Been
Conducted on Humorous Lines.
DritaIn's. Connection With China
Expedition Denied.
London, Feb lS.-The first division in
the first Parliament of King Edward
VII, which took place yesterday result
cd in cutting down to forty-hve the gov
ernment's normal majority of 130 The
interest caused by this unexpected event
was heightened by Mr. Winston Spencer
Churchill's first speech at Westminster
and by Mr.. Chamberlains defense of
his own policy.
The extraordinary slimness of the ma
jority was the result of Lord Cranborn's
refusal 10 answer questions relating to
the governments foreign policy without
| previous notice from the questioners
Mr.. John Dillon. Irish Nationalist.
seized the opportunity, and on a motion
| to adjourn almost placed the Conserva-
tive party in Queer street
Mr.. Dillon declared that the under-sec-
retary for the foreign Office had been muz-
zled, and that his refusal was breach OF
privilege.
Mr.. Balfour In defending Lord Gram
borne, said that course had been initiat-
| ed by the government after careful con-
| sideration The practice OF cross-exam-
lining the under-foreign secretary might
| endanger the interests OF nations, and
possibly the peace OF Europe
The House then divided as follows: For
the adjournment 2Oi; against, 249.
Lord Cranborne. resuming, said CONNER
cial interests was Great Britalns princi-
pal interest In China. The British min
lister at PelSn had been instructed to
gather together the indemnity claims that
were to be made. Russia had assured
the government that the occupatio of
| the Pekin-Shan-Hai Kuan Railroad was
only temporary and that the railroad ana
materials would be restored at the end
| of the occupation.
Russia had assured the government that
| any agreement between Russia, and China
respecting the occupation Of Manchuria,
| was in the nature of a modus vivendi, to
prevent disturbances along the frontiers
and railroads. 1t purely temporary
| and although a guarantee was expected
| by Russia against renewed disturbances
that guarantee would not take the form
of territorial acquisition, a virtual pro-
tectorate.
Lord Cranborne said that so far as the
government was aware no Power was con-
templating an expedition into the interior
| of China and also that the government
did not consider suicide a proper alterna-
tive for the death penalty lin the case OF
the Chinese implicated in the Boxer out
| rages).
The, revolt Of Tories" as the Daily
Graphic calls It, is believed to have been
more serious even that was revealed by
the figures of the division.
The Struggle in south Africa.
The government announced that from
| the beginning of the war to December
! there had been 1901 typhoid fever cases
among the troops in South Africa, 4,233
| deaths resulting.
Mr.. Churchilrs speech was partly hum
orous and partly serious He contended
that the war had been conducted on hum-
orous lines.
An attack OH the South African policy
| by Sir Robert Reid drew fire from Co
lonial Secretary Chamberlain, who denied
| that peace with honor was at any time
possible before or after the fall of Pre-
toria.
| Before the invasion OF Natal" he said,
I'VE would have accomplished the model
| concessions, but after the invasion the
! government determined that not ons
shred OF independence which the Beers
had abused should ever again be con-
ceded to them.
Before we grant free government to
the Beers the country must be restored
10 something like its normal condition.
| / have been I'm communication with Sir
Alfred Miner with view Of taking ad-
vantage of any opportunity that might
present itself.
THE struggle had to come. 1t origi-
mated in the determination of the Beers
h. .Aow. g..
| Africa"
The Newspaper Comments.
London. Feb. 19.-The Daily Chronicle
says that the trouble was due to a
great extent to Lord Cranborn'e's mex
perience and his sheltering himself be-
hind Mr. Bafour's rule, instead of evad-
ing a direct answer"
The Daily Telegraph regards it as
merely the beginning OF the Irish cam
paign against the English parties"
The Daily News, In another editorial
dealing with matters upon the standpoint
OF Chinese affairs and commenting upon
| the retlcence OF the ministers, says:
Great Britain has now to rely for in
forma ton upon the kindness of the
United States government departments
The only satisfactory feature Of the
whole story is the refusal of the United
States to join in the Waldersee expedi-
( tion"
"Wd trust" says the Times. that
when the government has received more
| information Lord Cranborne will give
! clearer replies than he did yesterday.
| Although we are not in love with the
modern process of cross-examining min
listers in Parliament 1t can hardly be de-
MED that there was some ground for
protest against Mr. Balfour's ukase. To
| decline to answer impertinent or inju-
dicious questions is justihable. 1t is
however quite a different thing to en-
deavor to give backbone to invertebrates
| by the rule of thumb"
| In short the Times hints pretty plain
ly that Lord Cranborne is not equal 20
his responsibilities.
-s--o-e-