New-York tribune., 1902-07-20
NEWS OF TWO CAPITALS.
LONDON.
DULL TRANSITION PERIOD BEFORE
CORONATION.
WHAT NEW PREMIER WILL. PROBABLY DO
WITH CABINET-EFFECT OF VISIT OF
ITALIAN KING To RUSSIA
Copyright: 1902: BY The tribune Association,

Copyright; 1902; By The Tribune 4associatOn)
Especial to The New-York Tribune by French Cable,
London. July 19.-Apart from the first speecb
OF the new Prime Minister outside of ParIia-
ment this afternoon. there is little to record on
the least eventful of recent Saturdays. There
are garden parties at Hatfield House and Lyon
Rouse and there is a general emptying of the
West End into the country over sunday one og
the most important parties being Henry Whites
at Wilton for Lord Kitchener
"hiie the colonial ministers and premiers are
sum IN imminent danger of being killed by hos
pitaiity' and while Lord Kitchener is a fresh
target Tor after dinner oratory there is a gan
eral cessation of social gayety and all atteupts
10 iihpart animation to the waning season have
proved futile There will be a dun transition
period before the coronation and shooting sea-
son, with restaurant summers and r,,,,ta -,
parties as mild distractions and good iadad toI1-
ABOUT the shortened ceremonial at the sbbav
ana the oelated appearance Of the peeresses 4,
their robes and jewels "
So stasnant is the condition of no1i,;o., al
social life after the poignant disappontn,a,+ =,
'he hrst coronation week that the retiran,s,+
u Aoru salisbury has hardly made rippIe On
tue surface The change of Prime Ministers ha.
zen erected as easily as a transfer OF court
oihclals from one post TO another, and has an
parehtly been based upon the direct exercise OF
royal authority and discretion. Although fol-
lo"ed by the announcement of the in,nendfns-
retirement Of the Chancellor of the F,xcheouar
thls change in the direction of the destinies OF
the empire has not caused the smallest furry
IN the Stock Exchange nor affected the prices
OF consois in the slightest degree
Ihoushtful Englshmen are impressed with
the conservatism and stability of their political
ihStitutions' and are enabled to find some COM
pensations for the lack of 1exibility and pro-
sresslVe enterprise with which the nation is re-
preached.
The new Prime Minister has been in Office o,I,,
week, yet everything is settled excsnt The 70
construction OF the Cabinet and there has bsen
neither constitutional crisis nor political ex-
element
There is curiosity respecting Premier BaIfour's
selections, and the succession to the treasury ia
an analr OF real interest TO men in the street
out the talk in the clubs and drawing rooms IS
languid. and there is no evidence on Change
that any disturbance has been caused by the re-
urement OF the two veterans from politics The
postponement of the coronation has produced
a paralyzfng effect on all classes
/ Mr.. Balfour's succession has passed as an az
talr OF little Importance. The effect of the res
toration Of the Premiership from the Lords 70
the commons is so advantageous that thars fs
Ht'le probability that Mr.. Balfour will reIin-
quish the leadership of the lower house.
His followers are urging him to become the
Chancellor of the Exchequer in imitation os
MT Giadstone's practice, and in this way pro-
tect himself against the expansion of Mr. Cham
Uerialh innuence In the Cabinet. The fact that
MI Balfour already holds two offices wouId nor
interfere with this amalgamation of +vro -.
nnancial posts, for the privy seal was taken
lor the sake OF giving the Prime Minister a
place OF honor at the coronation. and could he
aoandoned after the ceremony Mr.. BaIfour is
not a nnanc1er nor is he fond OF official drudz-
cry The leadership of the government and the
commons Will give him all the work he wants,
and there is little in the argument that his an
thority will not be challenged if as Chancellor
OF the Exchequer. he is in a position to settle
directly with the heads of the spending denart
ments Mr.. ChamberIain's enemies will NOT he
heve IT, but he is content TO remain where he is
and allow Mr. Balfour to carry on the govern
ment on frankly imperialistic lines with a fed
Grafton Of the colonies and the United Kingdom
as the goal TO be approached slowly but surely
Lord George Hamilton. on the strength Of the
reputation of having worked out cleverII the
difficult problem of Indian finance is regarded
by members of the House as the most probable
cahdldate for the succession 10 the treasury
and Lord Hanbury also has support as a handy
man of all work in politics: but these are So
ciety and lobby nominations. and can easily be
improved upon
Inasmuch as Lord James Hereford Lord Ash
borne and Lord Halsbury. following the example
OF Lord CadOgan, are expected TO retire after
the coronation. there will be general shaking
up of the dry bones in the Cabinet Mr. Austen
Chamberlain and George Wyndham will be
members OF the new Cabinet unless all signs
fail. and Sir Robert Finlay will be Lord Chan
cellor If Lord Halsbury be induced TO be
lieve that any one except himself can select
judges for the bench. The Duke of Marlborough
is named for several hgurehead places. such as
Viceroy of Ireland or Australia but he has
been taking marked interest in the fortunes OF
Winston Churchill. and may be content if his
kinsman's claims to political promotion are rec
ognized.
The pessimistic reports respecting the suen
conduct OF the Beers and the resentfuI dispo-
sition OF the surrendered warriors TO boycott
the scouts who fought the British side are
clearly exaggerated. There are some symptoms
OF dissatisfaction over the slowness with which
the Beers are released and provided with money
for making fresh start in their old homes
but the disaffection is not serious when caused
by inevitable delay and meshes Of red tape
While the Boer colonies bear a closer re-
semblance to Alsace-Lorraine than to loyal and
reconciled Quebec, they are settling down more
rapidly than the most elastic cptimist could
have expected when peace was made. Lord
Kitchener's confidence in the good faith of the
Beers and admiration for their fighting qualities
are attested by the final report OF military op-
erations He was the real author of the peace
compact. and the Kings influence was behind
him Lord Kitchener has not said one word
since his return TO England to indicate that he
apprehends a renewal of the political agitation
among the Beers against the Crown. Alarmists
who Law stress upon the sporadic instances OF re-