THE BRITISH CABINET.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 215, 7 October 1903, Page 3

THE BRITISH CABINET.

CHANGES ANNOUNO2D. KB PBSSS AfIHOOIATIOS. Received 6. 9.55 p.m. Londos, October 6, The King has accepted tie Duke of Devonshire's resignation. The following changes in the Ministry are officially announced : Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr Austen Chamberlain (lately Postmaster-Gene-ral) ; India, Hon. St. J. Brodriek (lately Secretary for War); War Office Mr H. O. Arnold-Forster (lately Secretary Board of Trade); Colonies, Ron. Alfred Lyttelton (Liberal TJniocis'); Secretary for Scotland, Mr Gtaham Murray (Conservative); Postmaster-Gene-ral, Hon. Arthur Stanley' (formsrly Private Secretary to Mr Balfour). All have seats in the Cabinet.

SUES Or DEVONSHIRE'S SEASONS FOB RESIGNING. Beceived 7,0.15 a.m. Londojt, October 6. The Cuke of Duke of Devonshire, writing to Mr Balfour, on the 22nd, ■aid: 'I am left in increasing doubt whether I was well advised in separating myself from my colleagues who resigned in September. The definite .statements of policy, and the general tone and tendency of the Sheffield ttpeech made a final decision necessary. 2}ie speech had gone very far beyond Seeding the constituencies' sanction of the doctrine that taxation should never be imposed except for revenue. It was unnecessary to assert that the controversy of 1846 had no interest now except historically; it was also unnecessary to assert there was a desire to alter, fundamentally, the fiscal traditions prevailing for the laxt two generations, as such declarations ctnnot materially encourage the advocates of protection, and discourage the believete in free imports, especially of fcod, etc., even though the latter did not contend ' that the principles of that policy possessed authority an 4 sanction forbidding any departure for sufficient reason". Personally, I hoped the speech would j contu'n a definite adherence to the lprincipUs of free tradp, and an (qnaUy dtioiterepudiationofprotection. The'e is no such agreement en the general question between us as would triable me to become a satisfactory exponent

■of your view s. I deeply regret leaving j the Gov-rnment with which I am in ' f -eympatby on all other matter*, snd'cartjjot adequately express the arxi«*y I feel at the wide division which mus' result from the unexpected tcop3 and j «treDgth of your declaration." i!R BaLFOTO'S REPLY. J.osdoh, October 6, Beceived 1, U* a-m. Mr. Balfour, in his reply of the 3rd instant said: -«I am much surprieed at the reasons assigned for your unexpected resignation. After much confidential correspondence arjd much intinute conversation, you informed me on September 16th 'hat. you would remain in the Cabinet. I had discussed all phases of policy with you wrh perfect frankness, and I had a right to consider, and did consider that your decision was final, and relied on obtaining thereafter your weighty asristancs in reconstruction. Yon even initiated proposals which 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 •Wisioa pt thifl ringulw tranflforav

tiou was my Sheffield speech. This h strange, ja.-.Uci 1 ; JV[y contained to d.-otrin* uui; coutaiced in my notes cm ii,aul.ir fr fc e rrado, and r*y letter fc Mr Chumberkio. You saw the fiist at the end of July, and the second before publicities. I must suppose ■;here was some unintentional discrepancy between my written and spoken word teat drives you to desert the admiwVratioß you have -o long adorned. Unnl your tel-gram I counted upon yc u as a colleague in spuit as well as in same I should have thought such a cr-lleague, in the event of an discrepancy would take my written rather than my spokerj word as expressing the true raeaninj of tbe author, or, as leist, that yo» ■*ould make etquiric-n b=f.,re arriving ar. a Seal hostile co'icir.sion. Ido not oeliave tho discrepancy pxifitp., i>.)id sh.ulj havj surmisiii tbat anyoue but you would bo i;i.-).'e wnxiiu? to pick v quarrel tuan bj parti, uhr as to th-aalii-ii-ncy of ihe o casioa. No sucb suspici >n attaches to you, yes I thu.k your resignation gm-s me j usi cause to cmplain. My declaration at Sheffiuld instead of aggravating pirfcy divisioi produced greater harmony than hatprevailed since the fiscal question was raised. If you had resigned in Sep tember, or not at all, this healing effsci would have suffered no interruption, but you have taken a course moBt; calculated to make harder the task rf peacemaker. Your leaving would always be a serious loss, and would have been sensibly felt at the moment of the Ministry's most buoyant prosperity." Sow you leave ' when our opponent consider our fortunes are at the lowest, and our perplexities the greatest. You, possibly, and I, c rtainly, believe out opponents are mistaken. 1 see no difficulty in successfully exercising the policy which you, a fortnight ago, were ready to accept, and by your help in the administration you, for a fortnight, have aided to concert. I cannot pre tend to vLiw in tho light of equanimity the loss of a colleague whose services no chanpes or chances of a political nature can tempt any Unionist' to forget."