Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-28
ENGLISH POLITICS
n
Political Circles in England in
a Vortex of Speculation.
PAYS FOR POOR POLICY
DISSOLUTION OF PARLIAMENT TO
FOLLOW BUDGET 1NRTRoDucT1oN.
Balfour Criticised as Acrobatic States
man-Cost of Warships-Books
Bring Good Prices.

Mr.. Chamberlains sudden return from
Egypt, before half the period of his holiday
has elapsed, has thrown political circles
Into a vortex of speculation. There is one
idea which energies clear and distinct from
the misty haze which shrouds the present
situation, and that is that a dissolution and
an appeal to the country will Immediately
follow the introduction Of the budget. What
ever reasons, personal or political partisans
according to their hue advanced for Mr..
Chamberlain's stampede back to England,
there is complete and convincing agree
ment that a general election is imperatively
called for, and that Mr.. Chamberlains re-
call may be taken it's herald.
There is also a complete coincidence of
opinion that this necessity for an appeal to
the country had it's Immediate cause in the
free trade motion in the house of commons
last Wednesday. The real acuteness of that
crisis is only now becoming apparent and
1t is indeed freely asserted that Mr.. Austen
Chamberlain was the real instgator of the
meeting of the 112 protectionists who sent
an ultmatum to the prime minister stating
their resolve to vote against the government
II it adopted Mr.. Wharton's amendment for
winch they rightly suspected the govern
ment was itself responsible.
Severe on Balfour.
The fact that this conspiracy means that
Mr. Chamberlain the younger and Mr.
Bonar Law are guilty of treachery to the
government of which they are members
need not he labored in the case of minis
try composed under such singular and in
congrous circumstances 1t is the penalty
that Mr.. Balfour has to pay for his policy
and pusilla nimty, and If he meets the tradi-
tlohal rate OF the acrobat who tried to sit
upon Two stools there are few people who
can feel4eorry for him in the ignominious
position which he now occupies
Now that the extreme protectionists no
longer trust Mr.. Balfour, and have sum-
moned their leader back to reassume the
command people are asking what new Sit
uation VIII be developed within the next
few weeks. Mr.. Chamberlain can hardly
engage in another prolonged prophecy of
woe The country is tired of il, and many
o. the facts are against him. He may GER
talnly ind new fuel ir the budget for a
raging, tearing propaganda, but experienced
politicians here on both sides shake their
heads and think that the game of CRYING
wolf has been played out and that the
country IS In no mood tor' another bout of
political dissipat ton. On the liberal side.
coistered up by recent election victories
Mr.. Chamberlain's reappearance is being
compared to Napoleon's return from Elba
TO unite his scattered and disheartened fol-
lowers, and to lead than to their final and
disastrous Waterloo.
Sale of Old Estates.
New men and old acres come into closer
relationship at the forthcoming dispersal
OF the entailed estates of the late Harry
George, fourth and last Duke of Cleveland.
When the duke died his vast territorial
possessions were scattered Lord Barnard
succeeded to Raby and Its 10000 acres.
The duchess lord Rosebery's mother) was
a int in Do A
remainder to Captain Forester, who was
also devised the valuable estates of the
Cleveland family in the west of England.
Since the duchess death Battle Abbey has
been sold to Mr.. NJ. p. Grace, the Ameri-
can, and now the west of England estates
are going under the hammer They COM
prise 1900 acres, mostly in west Cornwall
and south Devon, the latter probably
among the most beautiful and fertile agri-
cultural land In the united kingdom.
There are other big sales of landed prop
erty coming on. Sir Henry Campbell-Ban-
herman, with eye on Downing street
is selling his town house in GrOsvenor
place this week. The Earl of Elgin's town
house in Ennismore Gardens follows and
the Duke of Montrose's town house is also
in the market
cies often pick up bargains. Sir Walter
Gilbey, the well-known wine merchant,
some years ago acquired one such. He pur
chased, for 1890, the sellers contingent re-
versonary interest in some estates IN
NOrthamptonshire and Elsenham. Essex,
where Sir Walter resides. The seller
his brothers death last year. without issue,
became entitled to a life interest in the
estates. which are producing f3CO0 a year,
an interest which he sold twenty-one years
ago to Sir Walter Gilbey for 1880. Sir Wal
ter will probably see that the vendor does
not entirely lose his inheritance Instances
could be multiplied though, of such sales
here in England, where so many are look
ing forward to the death of some one for
their betterment. 20
Economy in Evidence.
The hoof of the economist shows itself
in the fiat fixing the salaries of the In
spector general and the four military mem
bers of the army council. The former re-
ceives $4,000 and the latter f2 600 year
each. Compared with the old pay list of
great officers, the new one shows a saving
of something like "A 400 per annum. Lord
Roberts mad $4,000 as commander in-chief
the Duke of Connaught will have only
$4,000 as inspector general. The office of
military secretary is abolished under the
new scheme and this saves Il, 500. The in
spectOr generals of Notifications and ord
nance have been merged together and
whereas these each received 1000 guineas
a year, the new officer, or the fourth mill
tary member, to give him his official title,
receives 1900. On the other hand. there
Is now a chief of the staff with 1000
year. If the pay list for the minor offices
shows up as well as this one it would
seem that efficiency may occasions be
combined with cheapness.
Some of the newspapers state that the
king boarded n submarine st Portsmouth q
few days ago and Inspected the vessel, the
ship being below the surface at the time.
The real facts OF the case are follows:
The hold. or compa Mon, of a submarine
through which the officers and crew enter
the ship, is calculated on a scale which
does not admit persons of portly habit.
Already some difficulty has been expert
enced at Portsmouth In reference to the
hospitable 5 o'clock teas which have occa-
sionally been given to charming young
ladies and their chaperons. 9VCases have
been known where the girl has entered the
submarine with ease. while the chaperofi
was physically prevented from following
her charge into the interior of the ship.
English Hpmor,
A difficulty of the same kind presented
itself in the case of his majesty, and the
with ~rfax~ ,..Il s,,~- -