BALFOUR MINISTRY.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 1015, 7 October 1903, Page 2

BALFOUR MINISTRY.

RESIGNATION OF DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE. RE-ARRANGEMENT OF PORTFOLIOS. MR LYTTELTON TO REPRESENT COLONIES. By Telegraph— Press Association— Copyright Received 9.55 p.m., Oct. 6. Loudon, Oct. 6. Ilis Majesty the King has accepted tho Duke of Devonshire's resignation. The following changes in tho Ministry are officially announced Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr Austen Chamberlain ; India, Mr Brodrick; War, Mr Arnold Forster ; Colonies, Mr Alfred Lyttelton ; Secretary for Scotland, Mr Graham Murray ; Postmaster, Mr Stanley. All have seats in the Cabinet.

THE DUKE’S FAREWELL LETTER WHY HE RESIGNED. By Telograph— Press Association— Copyright Received 12.15 a.m„ Oet. 7. London, Oct. 6.

Tho Duke of Devonshire, writing to Mr Balfour on the 2ud, said that ho was left iu increasing doubt whother ho was well advised iu separating himself from his colleagues who resigned in September. Definite statements of policy and the general tone and tendency ot tbo Sheffield speech mado tho final decision necessary. The spoech had gono very far beyond seeking tho constituencies’ sanction to a revision of tho doctrine that taxation should never bo imposed except for vovenue. It was unnecessary to assert that the controversy of 1845 had no interest now except historically. It was unnecessary to assert a desiro to alter fundamentally the fiscal traditions prevailing for tho last two generations, touch declarations could not matorially encourage the advocates of protection and discourage those who believed in free imports, especially food imports, oven though the latter did not contend that the priueiplos of that policy possessed authority and sanction forbidding any departure for sufficient reasons. Personally he had hoped the speech would contain a definite adherence to the principles of freetrade, and equally definite repudiation of protection. “ There was,” ha added, 11 no such agreement on the general question between us as would enable mo to become a satisfactory exponent of your views, I deeply regret leaving a Government with which I am in sympathy on all other matters. I cannot adequately express the anxiety I feel at the wide division which must result from tho unexpeoted scope aud strength of your declaration.”

THE PRIME MINISTER’S REPLY, By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyrlghl Received 1.14 a.m., Oot. 7

London, Oct. 6. Mr Balfour, replying to the Duke of Devonshire, on the 3rd, said : “ I am much surprised at the reasons assigned for your unexpected resignation. 11 After much confidential correspondence and much intimate conversation, you informed me on September 16th that you would remain in the Cabinet. “ I had discussed all phases of polioy with you with perfect frankness. I had the right to consider, and did consider, your decision final, obtaining thereafter your mighty assistance in reconstruction. “ You even initiated proposals, whioh I gladly accepted, our last communication being on the day I journeyed to Sheffield, yet within 48 hours I receive a telegram tendering your resignation. “ You tell me the principal occasion of this singular transformation wa3 my Sheffield speech. This is strange indeed. My speech contained no doctrine not contained in my notes on ‘ Insular Freotrade,’ and my letter to Mr Chamberlain you saw first at the end of July, and second before publication.

“ I must suppose some unintentional discrepancy between my writton and spoken word drives you to desert the administration yon so long adorned. “ Until your telegram I counted upon you as a colleague in spirit as well as name. I should have thought such a colleague in tho event of an apparent discrepancy would take the written rather than the spoken word as expressing the true meaning of the author, or at least that you would make enquiries before arriving at a final hostile conclusion. " 1 do not believe a discrepancy exists. I should have surmised anyone but you more anxious to pick a quarrel. Than tbe particular sufficiency of the occasion, no such suspicion attaches to you. Yet I think the resignation gives me just cause to complain. The declaration at Sheffield, instead of aggravating party division, produced greater harmony than prevailed since the fiscal question was raised, If you had resigned in September, or not at all, this healing effect would have suffered no interruption. “ You have taken the course most calculated to mako harder tho task of peacemaker. Your leaviDg—always a serious loss—would have been sensibly felt at the moment of the Ministry’s most buoyant prosperity. “ Now you leave when opponents consider our fortunes at the lowest and the perplexities the greatest. You possibly, and I certainly, believe our opponents are mistaken. “ I see no difficulty in successfully exercising a policy which you a fortnight ago was ready to accept, and by help in tho administration you fpr a fortnight aided the concert. “ I cannot pretend to view in the light of equanimity the loss of a colleague whose services no changes or chances political can tempt any Unionist to forget.”