The Indianapolis journal., 1902-07-20
Preferred Joseph Chamberlain, who
Would Have Created "a Cabinet of
Greater Strength.
SPECULATION AS TO CHANGES
MIR. HANBURY PROBABLY WILL BE
CHANCELLOR OF ExCHEaUER.
Earl Hslsbury May Give Way to Sir
r.. b. Finley, and Marlborough
May Succeed CadOgan.

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,
Arthur j. Balfour, regarding the successors
of the ministers who have already resigned
or as to how far the changes in the
Ministry must be expected to extend. It is
undeniable that large section of the Con-
servatives and Liberal-unionists are strong
ly dissa tisled with the Ministry as at
present constituted and it is increasingly
apparent that in spite of all the parlia-
mentary eulogies of Mr.. Balfour, many
Unionists believe that a government of
greater strength and capacity could have
been established with Joseph Chamberlain
as leader The appointment of Mr.. Cham
berlain to the premiership would have been
received with disfavor by the opposition
and would have been red rag TO the anglo
phobes, but nevertheless there is a multi
tude of government supports who would
be glad to have him the chief and II is
learned from sources of undoubted authen-
ITCHY that Mr.. Chamberlain s claims TO the
premiership would have been recognized
being better than Mr.. Balfours had he not
whenever occasion presented Itself uISeO
Mr.. Balfour's succession against his own.
One important and strong point of the late
administration which has not yet become
generally known and appreciated and
which it is feared Mr. Bafour 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 1895 and are likely to be re-
newed now that Lord Salisbury has re-
tired.
Tba chief iroroadia+o cauSa of appreban-
sion, however is that Mr. Balfour will be
unwilling TO either radically reduce the
size of the unwieldy Cabinet, now number
ing nineteen, or make sweeping changes in
it. Nowhere is the complete reconstruction
more earnestly urged than among the Con-
servatives themselves. some of whom pro-
fess to fear that unless the Ministry is
strengthened it's support In the House of
Commons will rapidly dwindle. The COnser
vatives are doubtful whether Mr.. Balfour
is sufficiently resolute to recreate the Minis
try against the wishes of his present
sociates. The concensus 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 by the
Conservatives, with the exception of those
who desire to see the post of the eXchequer
filled by a man committed to the principle
of preferential trade with the colonies.
Other candidates mentioned for the eX-
chequer are the Right Hon. James w.
Lowther. the former parliamentary secre-
tary for foreign affairs, Lord George Ham
ilton, the secretary of state for India, who
is not considered to be a fnancier, and
Sir Edgar Vincent, the former financial ad-
wiser Of the Egyptian government and ex-
governor of the Imperial Ottoman Bank at
Constantinople.
1t is now considered probable that Earl
Halsbury will be succeeded as lord chan
cellor by Sir r. B. Finlay at present at
torney general. The manner in which
Lord HalSbury exercised his prerogative
in the appointment OF Judges has caused
considerable 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, probably will be succeeded by the
Duke of Marlborough, the Earl of Penn
broke and Montgomery or the Earl of Dud-
ley. If the Duke of Marlborough is ap-
pointed il will be due 10 his wifes popu-
larity as much as TO the dukes merits.
The dukes name is also mentioned as the
possible successor of the Earl of Hope
toun as governor general of Australia
Should c. T. Ritchie resign the home sec
retaryship George Wyndham, chief
secretary for Ireland. is considered prom
ising candidate. Lord AshbOurne's position
as lord chancellor of Ireland is acceptably
filled
The Right Hon. Sir Edward Carson. the
solicitor general, and the Duke of Bedford
are strongly urged to succeed Lord James
of Hereford in the anomalous Cabinet po-
sition of chancellor of the duchy of Lam
caster. Lord Hopetoun is a secondary pos
sibility. The resignation of Lord George
Hamilton as secretary of state for India
is considered probable.
J. Austen Chamberlain, eldest son of
Joseph Chamberlain and financial secretary
to the treasury, will doubtless become
Cabinet minister in some secondary posi-
tiOn.
The Right Hon. Gerald Balrour, president
of the Board or Trade and brother of the
premier cannot be said to be popular 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 Devonshire
as president of the Council is considered
foreordained, and il is not believed the
changes will go beyond those mentioned.