Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-19
NEW BRITISH CABINET
Gossip as to Mr.. Balfour's
Associates.
HE Is NOT POPULAR
LARGE SECTION OF PARTY PRE-
FERRED CHAMBERLAIN
Fear That New Premier Will Not Make
Sufficient Changes in the
Ministry.
HE IS NOT POPULAR

LONDON. July 19-Cabinet making Is
the absorbing subject of discussion here.
During the week the public was regaled
with more or less shrewd prophecies. but
no intimations were given out by the in
ner circle OF the intentions of the premier,
A. J. Balfour. regarding the successors OF
the ministers who have already resigned
or as to how far the changes I'm the min
istry may be expected to extend 1t is un-
deniable that a very large section Of the
conservatives and liberal unionists are
strongly dissatisfied with the ministry as
at present constituted, and 1t is increas-
ingly apparent that in spite of all the par
liamentary eulogies of Mr.. Balfour many
unionists believe that government OF
greater strength and capacity could have
been established with Joseph Chamberlain.
the colonial secretary. as leader.
The opinion is freely expressed all
sides by unionists as well as the liberals
that the interests of the empire nowadays
are so vast and complex that they are
sorely In need Of the oversight Of a man
of broader and more forCefGl powers, who
should be dissociated from the atmosphere
Of constant debate over the details Of such
measures. for instance, as the education
bill. or the question of releasing Patrick
A McHugh. the member Of parliament for
North Leitrim. from the penalty Of con-
tempt of a petty Irish court
The appointment Of Mr. Chamberlain TO
the premiership would have been received
with cold disfavor by the opposition. and
would have been red rag to the anglo
phobes, but nevertheless there is a multi
tuoe Of government supporters who would
be glad to have him chief, and the AS
sociated Press is informed from sources OF
undoubted authenticity that Mr.. Chamber
lain's claims to the premiership would have
been recognized as being better than Mr.
Balfour's had he not whenever occasion
presented itself urged Mr.. Baifour's success
sion against his own.
Salisbury's Resistance to Germany.
One important and strong point of tile
late administration which has not yet be-
come generally known and appreciated and
which it is feared Mr.. Balfour will not fully
inherit was Lord Salisbury's persistent re-
sistance to Emperor Williams efforts TO
entangle Great Britain in an alliance with
Germany. These efforts have been made
at intervals since 1885 and are likely TO be
renewed now that Lord Salisbury has re-
tired.
The chief immediate cause Of apprehen-
sion, however, is that Mr.. Balfour VIII be
unwilling to either radically reduce the
size of the unwieldy cabinet, now number
ing nineteen, or make sweeping changes in
it, Now here is its complete recOnstruc-
ton more earnestly urged than among the
conservatives themselves. some Of whom
profess to fear that unless the ministry is
strengthened its support in the house or
commons VIII rapidly dwindle. The conser-
VatiVes are doubtful whether Mr.. Balfour
IS sufficiently resolute TO recreate the min
istry against the wishes of most Of his
present official associates. The consensus
of best informed conservative opinion
points to a list of appointments something
like the following as being the most likely:
Mr. Hanbury, the president Of the board
of agriculture, to succeed Sir Michael
Hicks Beach, the chancellor OF the ex-
chequer. the announcement Of whose resig-
nation was not received with favor oy the
conservatives, with the exception of those
who desire to see the post OF the eNchequer
filled by a man committed to the principle
of preferential trade with the colonies.
Other Candidates Mentioned.
Other candidates mentioned for the ex-
cheuuer are the Rt. Hon. James W. Low
ther. the former parliamentary secretary
for foreign affairs; Lord George Hamilton,
the secretary of state for India, who is not
considered to be a financier. and Sir Edgar
Vincent. the former financial adviser to the
Egyptian government and ex-governor OF
the Imperial Ottoman Bank at Constantl-
nople.
1t is now considered probable that Earl
Halsbury will be succeeded as lord chan
cellor by Sir r. B. Finlay at present attor-
ney general The manner in which Lora
Halsbury exercised his prerosative in the
appojntments OF judges has caused consid-
erable dissatisfaction. 1t is asserted that
many of the appointees do not reach the
high standards previously maintained IN the
English courts.
Earl Cadogan the lord lieutenant Of Ire
land will probably be succeeded by the
Duke of Marlborough, the Earl OF Penn
broke and Montgomery or the Ear! or Dud-
ley II the Duke of Marlborough Is APP
pointed il will be due to his wfe's popu-
larity as much as TO the dukes merits.
The dukes name is also mentioned as the
possible successor Of the Earl or Hope
toun as encouragement of Australia.
Should c. T. Ritchie resign the home
sacretarvship George Wyndham, now CHIEF
secretary for ireland, is considered prom
Using candidate.
Lord AshboUrnes position as lord chan
cellor of Ireland is acceptably filled.
To Succeed Lord James.
J. Austen Chamberlain, eldest son of Jo-
ucitor general, and the Duke of Bedford
are strongly urged to succeed Lord James
of Hereford in the anomalous cabinet posi-
ton of chancellor of the duchy OF Ian
caster Lord Hopetoun is secondary pos
sibi!itv.
The resignation of Lord George Hamilton
as secretary of state for India Is consadered
proba BILE
j. Austen Chamberlain, eldest son or oJ-
semi Chamberlain and financial secretary
to the treasury will doubtless become
cabinet minister in some secondary position
The Right Honorable Gerald Balfour,
president of the board of trade and brother
lar with his party, but he is not expected
TO retire from the cabinet.
The retention of Lord Lansdowne as for-
eign secretary and the Duke of DeVonsh1re
as president of the council is considered
foreordained. and it is not believed that