The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-07-21

Is The Reason for Saltsburys Re- |
tirement-No Cabinet Changes.
LONDON, July 13.-Lord Salisbury
has resigned as Premier of Great Bril- |
tain, and Arthur ]. Balfour has been
appointed to succeed him. These
changes in the Cabinet were arranged
at conferences with the King, and will
be publicly announced at a meeting Of
the UniOnist party to be held at the
Foreign Office at noon tomorrow.
Vague rumors of the Premiers con-
templated resignation have been rife
ever since the death of the Warehouses
of Salisbury. These began to take more
definite shape a few months ago, the
end of the war, or the contamination
of the coronation being mentioned as
the probable date of resignation. At
the same time the announcement will
come as a surprise to the Unionist
party whose leaders did not expect it
till late in the autumn.
On Friday last Lord Salisbury paid
a private visit to the King and tender
ed his resignation his advancing years
and failing health being the reasons
assigned. The King graciously but res
gretfully accepted the resignation and
subsequently communicated with Bal
LOul, II HSl LOIu OI Ine treasury ana
Government leader in the House of
Commons. Balfour was received yes
terday by the King, who offered him
the post of Prime Minister which was
accepted.
BaIfour afterward held a meeting
with Chamberlain and other members
of the Government, who learned the
Kings decision with pleasure, Cham
berDain being particularly pleased, for
Balfour is exceedingly popular with his
fellow Ministers. 1t was then agreed
to make the public announcement to-
morrow. 1t is sure to give rise to ru-
mors of many changes in the Ministry
but it is asserted that there will be
none.
BalfOur, as Premier, will remain
leader of the Commons. Lord Sails
bury will attend the coronation as
Prime Minister, such being the Kings
wish.
The main reason for Salisburys re-
tirement is considered by practically
all the best-informed persons to have
been a desire for a quiet life on the
part of man advanced in years,
whose activities have been unusual and
whose scientific tastes predispose him
to study and seclusion. That the re-
firing Premier's health has failed to
some extent is undeniable, but this is
not more than perhaps is to be ex-
pected in man of his years, and the
close of the war in South Africa and
the return of the commanding Cen
eral Is considered to be an appropria-
te time for his withdrawal.
His retirement was practically ar
ranged at an audience of Lord Sails
bury with the King a month ago, to
be coincident with his majesty's coro-
nation; but the Kings illness interfer-
ed with these plans and compelled
Lord Salisbury to wait till his majesty
was sufficiently recovered to attend
to state business. Though alert
mentally, the retiring Premier's ply
steal condition, especially since the
death of his wife, has not been salts
factory. That loss seemed to affect
him greatly, and since that time he
has done little entertaining beyond
purely official annual dinners and re-
ceptions. In a social aspect Balfours
accession is not expected to make
much difference, neither Balfour nor
his sister, who acts as his hostess, be-
ing very fond of society
Although Lord Salisburys resigna-
ton does not necessarily involve the
redistribution of the Cabinet, it is be-
lieved there will be some changes. It
is not considered unlikely that some of
the Ministeres will be made peers in
order to make room for new blood in
the Cabinet. 1t has been the idea that
Balfour would be elevated 70 the peer
age, leaving Chamberlain To lead the
House OF Commons, the notion being
that this arrangement would be the
best to conciliate the divergent inter-
ests of the Cabinet; but it is under
stood that, at any rate for the present,
Baltour will continue to lead the Com
mons.
1t is learned that Lord Salisbury, in
resigning, expressed the desire that no
new title or honors should be confer
red upon him.
The retirement of this last great
statesman. of the Victorian age Is uni
versally regarded as the transition
from one generation to another, and
as marking the close of an era in the
national life.
LONDON, July 1.-THE Times states
that Lord Salisbury's resignation was
not caused by any political differences
with his colleagues in the Cabinet and
says: we understand that the King
was very anxious to mark in some spe-
cial manner his high sense of the great
service Lord Salisbury has rendered to
the state and expressed a desire to be-
stow upon the retiring Minister some
conspicuous promotion or decoration;
but Lord Salisbury begged to be al
lowed to decline the proposed honor
There is reason to believe that the
King sought Lord Salisburys advice
as to his successor and that the retir-
ing Prime Minister suggested Mr. Bal
four.
"A message was thereupon sent from
the palace to Mr.. Balfour al the House
Of Commons. Feeling that il was inn
possible to respond to the Kings
wishes with success without having Sc
cured the concurrence and support Of
Mr.. Chamberlain, Mr.. Balfour Inn
mediately drove to the Colonial Score
tary's house and saw him in his sick
room. We are in a position to state
that he was met in the most cordial