The Mena weekly star., 1908-04-09

Sunday. The king, in telegraphing his acceptance of the premier's resigna- tion. conveyed an expression of his regret and esteem. with best wishes for Sir Henry's recovery.
 No further official announcement with regard to cabinet changes has been made but the king has summoned Herbert H. Asquith. chancellor of the exchequer and the latter will start for Biarritz, where the king is sojourning probably Monday afternoon. The chancellor, who has been acting premier in place of Sir Henry Camp bell-Bannerman, called a meeting of the cabinet Sunday morning to submit the premier's resignation and discuss the course of business.
 The position of the country is quite unprecedented, there being no previ- ous example of change occurring in the premiership while the sovereign was abroad. On this account the cot vse of procedure to be followed Is in some doubt.
 Although so long anticipated. the actual announcement of the premier's resignation had not been looked for for some days yet, and comes some what as a surprise to the country. Sir Henry's condition had shown some slight improvement recently and his resignation was not due to any sudden impairment of his physical condition. On the contrary, among his friends his resignation is regarded rather as good sign that the doctors are now more hopeful of his recovery.
 An informal conference of ministers under the presidency of Herbert H. Asquith, chancellor of the excheQuer. was held prior to the commencement of Maniay's sitting of parliament. and the situation was discussed in gen eral way, the premier-elect asked to hear the views of his colleagues rela- tive to the prospective cabinet changes, now that the necessity of it's reconstruction has actually material ized. In view of the lack of success at the recent elections the cabinet will be rearranged so as to avoid as far as possible the election contests made necessary when the members of the house of commons or holders of under secretaryships are elected to cabinet rank.
 The house of commons was crowd ed Monday afternoon when MT. As quith rose to make his anticipated ad- dress. The premier-elect was greeted with hearty cheers as he began to speak.
 Since the house rose on Friday" said MT. Asquith. "the king has been pleased to accept the resignation of the prime minister, and the govern ment now is without head. This is not the occasion when 1t would be pos sible or appropriate to do justice to the great qualities of our revered and trusted chief, or to enlarge upon his long and splendid services to the state. For the moment l will not trust myself to do more than to say that in the annals of our history there is no man who. after long years spent in the thick of public contention. has ever laid down the highest office un- der the crown more universally and deservedly beloved. There is not a single man in any quarter of this house who does not feel that this is a personal loss"
 Mir. Asquith went on to state that 1t was clear public business could not proceed effectively at this time. and he proposed that the house adjourn until April IA. at which time, after the transaction of formal business. it would readjourn for the Easter re- cess.
 Mir. Balfour and MT. Redmond joined in feeling tributes to the retiring pre- mier Mir. Redmond emphasized the special bereavement of Ireland. say. ing that In Campbell ell-Bannerman's dis appearance Ireland suffered loss sec ond only to the loss caused by the re- tirement of Gladstone.