The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-21
VICEROY CURZ0N RESIGNS.
TO LEAVE INDIA BECAUSE or HIS
CLASH WITH KITCHENER.

tICtOry IOr mo SVsn"uuucrslusNtucs-
Trouble Started 0ve. Reorganization Of
the Forces in India offered Resigna.
tion Before-Lady Curzon an American.
Special Cable Despatch to TIE Sun.
LONDON, Aug. 2o.-The long and bitter
quarrel between Viceroy Curzon Of India
and the Home Government has terminated
In the viceroy for the second time asking
the Secretary Of State for India to place
his resignation In the hands Of Prime Minis
ter Balfour. This was made public In q
Parliamentary paper dealing with the
administration OF the army in India, which
was issued tonight
viceroy Curzon's telegram to Brodrick
Is dated Aug. IL and reads as follows:
my ability to act with advantage as
the head Of the Indian Government has
ceased to exist, and beg you again to
place my resignation In tho Prime Minister'S
hands
Under date Of Aug. 10 Premier Balfour
replied as follows:
If after all that has passed you reiterate
your request to be relieved OF your Office,
I know not how to combat further what
I take to be f1xed resolve. and have there
fore with the most profound regrets COM
municated your wishes to the King
viceroy Curzon's resignation is really
Gen. Lord Kitchener's triumph, for 1t is
between these two strong men that the
quarrel has been. When the friction started
the Home Government, recognizing that
there were rights on both sides, arranged
o scheme for dealing with the Indian army
which was compromise. but neither
Kitchener nor Curzon Is a man to be satisfied
with q compromise. One or the other had
to winoutright and Kitchener has proved to
be the victor.
The battle thus terminating has ragged
around the administrative relationship OF
the Viceroy and the Commander-in-Chief
and the military member OF the Viceroy's
advisory council, which in the Indian Gov
eminent corresponds roughly to the British
Cabinet or Ministry. When Kitchener
had taken over the job Of Commander-in-
Chief Of the Indian Army, one OF the first
things he ran foul of was the military men,
Der of the council, not as an individual,
but as an institution. The Commander-in-
Chief of course Is subordinate to the Vice
ROY and must get his consent In various
matters, especially all matters concerned
with the expenditure OF money.
Kitchener's firstSwork on reaching India
was a thorough reorganization In accord
ance with his own ideas Of the Indian Army.
He soon chafed under the control OF the
council. As an example, the following in
stances will suffice:
On Feb. 2, 1904, he asked for a reserve OF
1000 rounds Of ammunition per arm OF small
arms and it was not until Dec. % that his
demand was settled. and 1t was then cut
down to $50 rounds.
Apart from b cfual IrstsnCes such xT
this, It might only have been expected that
a man Of Kitchener's type could not long
brook a system under which the Com
mant.er-in- Chief received instructions
through an officer Of inferior rank who is
also entitled to criticize all OF the Com
mander-in-Chief' proposals from mill
tary standpoint. Kitchener soon made
this plain. The system must be altered
or he would resign.
The Home Government then appointed
a committee to consider the question OF
the administration OF the Indian army.
The result Of this was compromise which,
while recognizing Curzon's undoubtedly
Unsuitable plea that he should not be left
without expert advice on matters involving
a heavy outlay, as matter OF fact gave
Kitchener practical victory. Curzon then,
in June Of this year. offered his resignation
but the Intervention Of Premier Balfour
resulted in the Viceroy accepting the COM
promise.
The friction was renewed on the question
OF replacing the military member OF the
council by an official who was to be called
the military supply member. Gen. Ellos,
the last military member OF the council,
was at the end Of his career and resigned
His Office was abolished for the one just
mentioned. Curzon, although Directing,
accepted the newly instituted office and
strongly recommended for the first holder
Of the Job certain Gen. Barrow.
The appointment, Of course, restssex-
olusively with the Secretary Of State for
India. Barrow, when he was recommended
by cable by the Viceroy, was on his way to
England on leave Of absence. After he
had been interviewed by the home authori-
ties they rejected the Viceroy's request for
his appointment. CurSon persisted, and on
Aug. s intimated that II his recommended
ton was not accepted he would resign.
Premier Bafour interviewed. pointing out
to Curzon that the duty OF advising the
Crown az to the choice of members OF the
council rested solely with the Secretary Of
State, saying:
"No greater violation Of the Constitution
can we'll be imagined than that this duty
should degenerate into a merely formal
submission to his Majesty OF the views and
recommendations Of the Viceroys.'
Mr.. Balfour then proceeded to point out
the fact that as Barrow had no great liking
for the new system which he would have to
administer his appointment wouldn't tend
to its smooth working.
This was on Aug. 8, but after further
exchange OF telegr ans the Viceroy re-
signed in the words quoted earlier in this
de ,patch, at the same time acknowledging
the Governments correctness In regard to
the constitutional point and requesting the
publication OF the correspondence in order
to explain the circumstances leading to his
resignation.
yiceroy Curzon is the first Baron Of Kedles-
ton. He was first appointed Viceroy Of
India in 1899 and was reappointed In 1904.
His wife was Mary Victoria Letter. daughter
of L. 2. Letter OF Chicago and Washington.
LONDON, Aug. 2i.-The announcement
Ian