The Detroit times., 1909-02-06
BALF0UR WILL NOT
STIR LIBERALS IN
ENGLAND
RANoELY OPPOSES DIssoLU-
TloN-WANTs PARLIAMENT TO
RUN ITS COURSE - LESSON
FROM U. S. FLEETS CRUISE.

LONDON, Feb. 5.-The political sit
uation in England is considerably mix
ed. The Liberal ministers, after hesi-
Eating whether 10 challenge fight
With the lords by dissolution. either
on the budget or Oh some other pro-
gram have decided on sticking ID
Office. carrying certain non-contentiouS
social reform measures for two or
three years disregarding, the evi-
dence of growing dissatisfaction and
the by-elections and making an attempt
TO carry bills which the lords will not
accept.
The fighting Radicals are furious.
but helpless. The lords are masters of
the situation. The radical assertion
that the ministers will be turned out
within a year by Disguised country
Is not true, because Balfonr does not
wish 10 resume Office for at least two
more years. | discussed the question
with him and found him strongly OPP
posed 10 dissolution this year. He pre-
fers that parliament shall run its
course and believes II will do so.
The mntlnous protectionist conspira-
tors called the confederates are fur
ious, but with both Premier Asquith
and Balfour in favor OF postponing dis
solution the mutineers will rage In
vain.
II IS not anticipated that Bulgaria
and Turkey will fight. Bulgaria will
be forbidden TO plunge Europe into
war for dispute about S5.000,0O0.
American influence both at Sofia and
Constantinople Is potent and might be
used to urge reference OF the Balkan
trouble 10 the Hague tribunal.
Bulgaria has no friends. She alien
ated Austria by spelling NJ. Aehren-
that's game by precipitating crisis
Gar Ferdinand had agreed to declare
independence after Dec. 2, when the
Austrian diplomat hoped TO annex
Bosnia with the consent OF Turkey
and the powers Ferdinand spoiled
everything by declaring independence
on Oct. 5. which not only spoiled Aus
tyia's plan. but rendered 1t impossible
for him to fulfill his contract TO at
tack Servia If she gave Austria any
trouble.
The Italian queen, who is n Montene-
grin princess. was never 50 popular
dS Sllt has bCtI SlllGG tic cal NlQudhN.
She is also influential in the Russian
court. and the Russian loan having
been successfully floated. Russia prob
ably will take more decided line In
forbidding any attack on Servia. The
situation is critical, but not alarming
until the snow melts or Francis JOS
eph dies.
Admiral Sperry and the american
battleships got a great reception at
Gibraltar saw several leading naval
authorities and they are full OF adj
miratiOn over the success OF the
cruise.
The American ships coaled at Brit
ish stations II is estimated that
Sperry steamed 40. 900 miles, and must
have refilled his bunkers at least 40
times. The absence OF American coal
Ing stations would paralyze the Amer
lean feet as fighting force In Europe
and Asia.
| have seen some public utteralces
in America recommending the imme-
date dispatch of Sperry's fleet 10 the
Pacific. This Is impossible. The per
sonnet of the feet is immensely strong
er as result OF the cruise, but the
ships are practically hors du combat
until rehtted, their bottoms cleaned
and their boilers repaired. Modern
battlcships are the most delicate boxes
Of complicated machinery in the world.
The cruise was a magnificent DENT
onstration. but it has been paid for
by putting; the ships ont of action for
months TO come.