POLITICS IN ENGLAND.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1547, 1 February 1887, Page 1

POLITICS IN ENGLAND.

I I London Jan. 27. Parliament wa| opened to-day by Commission. Too Speech from the Throne was read by the Lord Chancellor. It stated that ifie relations between Great Britain and *|he other Powers were of a friendly character. Referring to Bulgaria, it stated; that a peaceful settlement of the difficulty was expected, and pelled Prince Alexander to retire from the throne, it was not judged expedient to interfere in the election of a successor until the question arrived at a stage when the assent of England would be required under the Berlin Treaty. Allusion was made to thegratifying condition of affairs iu Egypt. The task in connection with the country was still unfinished, but a substantial advance had been made therein, and there was every assurance of external and internal quietude being maintained, and an early settlement being affected. Reference was made to the greatly improved state of affairs iu .Burraah. As regards Ireland, it was remarked that'tbe condition of affairs there demands serious attention. The relations between the owners and occupiers of land have caused setious disturbances in some districts, owing to the organised attempts which have been made to excite tenants and to cause men to combine. Efforts to cope with the evil have been seriously impeded by the forms of the existing statutes. The introduction of the following measures was announced : —Bills to improve the law of local government in England and Scotland, and afterwards a similar measure for Ireland, as well as one to amend the criminal law in that country ; also Bills to facilitate the holding of small allotments and to transfer land, to authorise the sale of glebe land, and to alter the mode of levying tithes. No allusion was made in the Queen’s Speech as to the relations between France and Germany, or to the proposed Imperial Jubilee Conference. The recounting of the ballot papers for the Liverpool election has made no change in the totals polled, and Mr Neville has been declared dnly elected, Lord Randolph Churchill has published a statement in reference to his withdrawal from the Ministry. His Lordship states that he considered tbe army and navy estimates excessive for the genuinely peaceful policy which it was incumbent on England to follow., His colleagues declining to retrench, he was compelled to resign. Lord Salisbury sent him a note that the increased military and naval expenditure was necessary for defensive purposes, and for tbe maintenance ot coaling stations, and the chances favored war at an early Hate, Lord Randolph, replying, refused to acquiesce, or to be a party to joining in the desperate stake which he saw other nations playing. Jan. 28. At a discussion on the question relating to the islands of tbe Pacific in the House of Commons yesterday, Mr Fergusson, Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, announced that negotiations were proceeding b tween the Imperial and United States Governments, relative to the Canadian fisheries dispute. He hoped a friendly settlement would shortly he arrived at. In the House of Lords last night the Address-in-Reply to the Queen’s, Speech was voted. Lord Salisbury stated that the resignation of Lord Randolph Churchill was a loss to the Government, Ilwasdueto a patriotic desire for economy in the public expenses. The step taken by Lord Randolph appeared to his colleagues somewhat hasty, but it was hoped that the difference won'd no* b> a lasting one, Lord Salisbury expressed pleasure in welcoming Mr Qoschen into the ranks of the Ministry. Referring to the foreign policy of. the Gov rnmont, he denied that England had sought to restore Prince Alexander to the throne of Bulgaria. Her Majesty’s ' Government were not opposed to tbe extension; of Russian influence in Bulgaria, provided this did not become a domination, which would be fatal to the interests of The vast increasing armaments .of Continental Powers were a source of danger to the peace of Europe. The danger, however, bad not been lately increased. Both Lord Lyons, the British Ambassador in Paris, and Sir Edward Mallet, Ambassador in Berlin, bad declared the feeling in both cities was of a pacific character. In the House of Commons the Address-in-Reply was moved by Lord Weymouth. In the course of bis speech, Mr Gladstone endorsed the statement made by Lord Randolph Chqrchili that the Estimates were excessive for a genuinely peaceful policy. He attributed tbe plan of the Irish Land League to tbe absence of any provision Being made by the Govern-

ment for the distress which at present prevailed. Mr W. fl. Smith, replying to Mr Gladstone, stated that ELr Majesty’s Government were not desirous of interfering in any foreign complications, but would act in conformity with exiting treaties. He invited Mr Gladstone, as leader of the Nationalist party, to cooperate with the Government in endeavoring to restore order in Ireland, with a view to reform the local government of that country. The House of Commons shortly afterwards adjourned. A Procedure Bill to be introduced embracesjthe cloture. Lord Randolph Churchill’s statement shows that he objected to thirty-one millions (?) being voted for the army and navy. He urged that the proposed defences ot coaling sta’ions and commercial ports be abandoned. He would have been satisfied wih an immediate redaction ot half « million. The Press condemns Lord Randolph Churchill’s action. Mr i arnell intends to move an ' amendment to the Address-in-Reply. ' Jan. 29. Thirty Tory m-mbers have ploctd their seats at the disposal of Mr Goscben. The Earl o‘ Norihbrnok approves of the Marquis of Sulisbun’s refusal to accept Lord Randolph Churchill’s pro posal for a reduction of the expenditure in providing coaling stations.