LONDON PRESS OPINIONS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11692, 19 September 1903, Page 8

LONDON PRESS OPINIONS.

(Received September 19th, 12.55 a.m.) LONDON, September 18. The newspapers predict that resignation, especially Mr Chamberlain's, will startle Loudon and the provinces, although uirmiugham people have for some time been convinced that ho would doff his coat for the biggest, fight of this generation. The "Morning Post" says it is the mostoriginal resignation in historical memory. Mr Chamberlain and Mr Balfour remain the best of friends, and there is not even a political or party breach. The resignation will win the hearts of the best countrymen and admirers of the statesman who has made a daring risk to himself, and his prospects on his convictions.

Mr Austen Chamberlain does not resign

"The Times" says that while Mr Balfour is backed by the Duke of Devonshire and the rest of the Ministry, except the Cobdenhe seoeders, and has .Mr Chamberlain's loyal independent support, the reconstruction of the Cabinet "'HI not involve any ferious difficulty. "The Times'' adds: 'The correspondence reflects the highest credit on ivAi. Mr Chamberlain's retirement inay paradoxically strengthen the Government's policy and position in some re-

fjects. The "Daily Gluroniek" says Mr Chamberla ;i prcpos'-v; a partK/j-ar ■ne wh-c'.'. the Cabinet has actually adopted. \yr,n a conspicuous victory in the Cabinet though he suffered a startling reverse in the country. But the Cabinet has not rejected, but merely postponed, the preference proposals. * The. "Standard," while not anticipating the adoption by the country of Mr Chamberlain's proposals, confesses that his in-

CABLE NEWS.

evi table retirement is an, administrative misfortune, and declares tlmt his ungrudging admission regarding the constituencies is creditable to his sense of honour and his political discernment, though he does not believe the drift of opinion is permanent. MR SBDDON'S VIEWS. (si'Ecur- to "ntE i>kess.") WELLINGtuN, September IS. Tho news of the resignation of Messrs Chamberlain, and Ritchie and Lord G. Hamilton was received in the House shortly btfoie eleven o'clock, and at once formed the loading topic of eonversatiou. Mr Std ia*L. when approached on the subject, .v.i.i he h.id no views to express on the situation at present, except that the financial barometer and the low price of consols apparently were indications of some such crisis hi British politics