New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-11-09
ARTHUR J. BALFOUR
i RESIGNS LEADERSHIP
x.Premier Speaks of His Age
and His III Health, but Real
= Reason Is Political.
PREMATURE CRISIS OPENED
sDie- Hards" Not Ready to Name
.Successor-Sir Edward Carson
Z Likely To Be Chosen-Ques-
81 tion of a Peerage.

fBy Cable TO The Tribune.I
elDndon. Nov. Sat an emergency
meeting Of the City of London Conservs-
TIVE Association held to-day Arthur j.
Rslfour announced to his constituents
his retirement from the leadership of the
opposition. The ex-Premier has doubt
less become weary of the attacks of the
militant tariff reformers. but with char
seeeristic gracefulness referred to his in
Ieasing in health Che does not look
R1worn or haggard) and to his increas-
fs age The is barely sixty-three years
sHr. Balfour was received in audience
Is afternoon by the King and informed
MS majesty of his decision.
During the course of his speech to his
constituents he said:
/ desire to leave the position Of heavy
responsibility which ] hold before ] can
he suspected OF suffering from that most
Ipsid.Ous of all diseaseS-that disease whicn
comes uron those who without losing their
health or intellect. nevertheless get petrl-
Fed IN the old course they have pursued
whose authority grows because they have
Esn so long in public service. or are great
ma Of science. or eminent men OF bust
~. but who cannot oeal with the prob
Ems which in this CLEANSING world are
kotpetUallv arising with all. Freshness and
Elasticity are desirable in those who have
got 10 conduct great concerns.
No man knows himself when that hour
arrives. ] am vain enough 10 nope that J
have not reached that period. But would
10 miserable il I ran the margin too fine.
In view Of the tenseness Of the politi-
cal situation and of the imminence Of
the Home Rule fight, Mr.. Balfours res
iruation has created as much consterna-
fon among Unionists as Mr. Gladstone's
did on the historic occasion when Lord
Burlington succeeded 10 the Liberal
badership in 1915.
= not even extremists like Louis MaXse
80 Lord Willoughby De Broke. who
bavo been proclaiming that "Balfour
must CO. are pleased for the crisis has
come prematurely. when they have not
determined in their own mind whether
Austen Chamberlain or r. z. Smith
ought 10 be his successor. As for the
main body Of Unionist members of the
House Of Commons there IS feeling Of
Sheer dismay over the loss of their most
brilliant tactician and parliamentarian.
50 profound is the feeling of despon-
sency that it would be natural for an
q slider TO conclude that Mr. Balfour
~ proposed his resignatio as a meas
ore Of discipline to the unmansseable
die hards" and malcontents.
He will have them all at his feet to-
morrow exclaimed a prominent court
official tonight.
Unionist members have already ar
ranged for a party meeting to be held
next Monday, and are talking about the
unanimous passage of q resolution urg-
ing him 10 take a long holiday and
pledging Hnbroken support next session.
This course is also recommended by
court officials. who assert that the King
ought not to 90 to India with the sue
cession TO the leadership of the OPPOSE
ton undecided.
Mr. Balfour's intimate friends state
that his physicians have warned him
th-t he is unequal to the continuous
strain Of night work and the respond
bihties of leadership and that he must
retire. His followers do not find it easy
10 believe this when he has been leading
the Opposition with remarkable brill
fancy since the beginning of the autumn
session. Without doubt he can have a
vote Of confidence and profuse profess
sions Of loyalty if he will consent to
withdraw his resignation.
Another solution proposed as an alter
native by devoted followers is his reten-
ton of the leadership Of the party anc
the acceptance Of q peerage, with Sir
Edward Carson, Member Of Parliament