The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-06-21
His Transfer to Office of Lord
High Chancellor Followed
Quarrel With Grey.
BY Ia MAnauIsE DE roNrENoY-

BY LA MARoUIsE DE rONTENoY.
Jew people are aware Of the real
II reason which led Lord Haldanc
to be transferred from the Score
taryship of State for War to tho
office OF Lord High Chancellor. The
truth is. that it was brought about
by bitter Quarrel between him and
SIR Edward Grey. the Foreign Min
lister. Indeed. had not Lord tIaldane
taryship for the woolsack. Sir Ed
ward would probably have resigned.
1t may be remembered that some
months ago Lord Haldane went to Ber-
IN. on what was generally understood
Cabinet to the Kaiser, in order to con
fer about ways and means of settling
the existing Anglo-German differences.
thus relieving the tension between the
two powers.
Lord Haldane spent a week at Ber-
lin. had several exhaustive CONVERSE
/ tons With the Kaiser. chancellor Beth
klde rlen- Waechter. in the course OF
which eighteen points were arranged
on which England and Germany We're
Lord Haldane took this matter ad
referendum. promising that within
eight days the British cabinet would
intimate it's views on these proposals
to the German government.
fortnight passed. however. with
out any answer. whereupon a quiet CON
tidential question was addressed to the
about the matter.
The reply was altogether amazing
for II was TO the effect that neither
the Secretary of state for Foreign AZ
fairs nor yet the British Cabinet. could
give any expression to their views.
since Lord Haldane had been to Berlin
warrant: in one word. that his mission
was self-assumed. and that whatever
he had done in Berlin he had done In
purely private capacity.
liSaYOWal Haldana
urally confirms the report that whlo
at Berlin he committed England to
approval OF his colleagues. What rem
dered this action particularly discon-
certing. and disayowal imperative.
was the tact that he was secretary
OF State at the time.
In olden days there was only one
Secretary OF State. but as tho British
Empire grew. the labor of tho office
became too onerous for any one man.
and then another. until now there are
four Secretaries OF state. namely. for
Foreign Affairs. for the Home Depart
ment for War, and for India.
Of course there are number of
acts of the Sovereign which require
the cooperation of a Secretary of state
point. tine same office. Thus. when a
royal birth occurs, the Constitution de-
mands the presence Of Secretary of
State. so as to relieve tho reigning
putations of "suppositition'' to which
in former times. notably in the reign
OF James H., it has been subjected
Strictly speaking. this duty falls to
the lot of the Secretary for the Home
Department-this said without any in
tention OF jokc-but failing him. one
Of the other Secretaries OF State can
take his place: while no other member
of the cabinet not even the Premier, is
allowed to do so
In the same way. one Secretary OF
State can take over the administra-
cssity, and without needing any new
commission from the sovereign.
The German Emperor and govern
ment had every right to believe that
Lord lIaldane. one of the Secretaries
of State. was duly empowered to speak
for his King. and for his fellow Secre
tary. Sir Edward Grey.
BY deprivins Lord Haldane of his
Secretaryship of State for war. and by
"kicking him npstairsr to the Wool