The Minneapolis journal., 1903-09-18
The British Cabinet Crisis.

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Balfour on Englands fiscal policy, the res
ignations OF Secretary Chamberlain, Chan-
cellor Ritchie and Lord George Hamilton,
secretary Of state for India. were yester-
day rendered to and accepted by King
Edward The procuring cause OF these
designations was the Ignoring OF the
Chamberlain preferential tariff colonial
policy by Premier Balfour In his letter Of
Tuesday and his suggestion as a govern
ment policy Of a system of reta11at tory du-
ties to give England some equality or
trading power with foreign nations, whose
tariffs discriminate against her Richie
and Hamilton went out because Of the
latters declaration, while Mr.. Chamber
lain accounted the strongest man IN the
cabinet. used the sighting Of his prefer
entail scheme as pretext for putting
himself In position where he can spread
himself out to more advantage as the
leading champion driving the entering
wedge to split up and destroy the present
free trade policy and to advocate his bril-
liant program for imperial unity, thru
federation and imperial zollverein.
That the Balfour cabinet, In whatever
way the vacancies are filed Is marked
for defeat In the near future, or when 1t
reassembles is strongly evidential. The
outlook for defeat, indeed, Is SO decided
that dissolution in April Is predicted by
experienced English observers, and 1t Is
possible that between now and the reas-
sembling of parliament, the premier and
cabinet may come to the conclusion That
It is best to anticipate defeat by volun-
tary resignation, that a general election
may determine the attitude Of the voting
public. 1t is said that the members of
the house of commons pretty generally,
at the close of the recent session. cleared
out their lockers which contained their
private effects, looking upon the proroga-
tion rather as dissolution.
Mr. Balfour, in his letter to Chamber
lain, shows that he Is in close agreement
with him as to the necessity Of denying
the liberal argument that policy gener-
ally accepted in 1s46 by the nation could
not possibly need modification In 1908.
Not only this, but the premier indorses the
imperial federation policy Of Chamberlain
and admits with him that the country is
not yet ready to enter upon that policy
and with Chamberlain. He also admits
that preferential duty involving tax
on food would now be unacceptable to the
majority OF the people Of the United King
dom. Chamberlain however, is convinced
that a retaliatory policy is Immediately
practical, as Balfour suggested In his cir
cular note, and 1t is probable that in the
course Of the independent action upon
which he has now entered, he will stump
the country on that platform Of isca
reform with great power. He would give
England a weapon with which to meet
to some extent hostile tariffs and bring
about fair measure Of equality OF trade
1tate to recommend
We are in a condition in this country
with our assortment Of high duties, t.
meet such policy without any trouble
or serious impairment of the protective
system Mr.. Chamberlain sees that h
will have to wait on the growth Of public
sentiment for the developm ent of lmperia
federation and colonial preferential duties
He could not now get two thirds Of tn
conservative party to support imperia
unity.
The liberal party Is opposed to both tn
Chamberlain policies and they are pre-
pairing to fight the proposed retaliation
policy. It is extremely probable that
general election, any time within ST
months. would float the liberals again t
power, with the symbol "?'' lowering owe
their tenure of office
Coed! The President carries revolve
and is a crack shot Let the fact b
known. It may have a wholesome effec
where it ought to do the most good.