A CHANGE AT THE FOREIGN OFFICE.

Evening Post, Volume LX, Issue 104, 30 October 1900, Page 4

A CHANGE AT THE FOREIGN OFFICE.

Before the general election in the United Kingdom there was> even among loyal supporters of the Unionist Government, a feeling of dissatisfaction with the organisation of the Cabinet. It was hoped that immeditely after the close, of the electoral campaign there would be a thorough reconstruction. The most crying need wa§ an able and energetic administrator" at the ( War Office, but in addition to this obvious defect there were other shortcomings which demanded attention. The' Cabineji^was unwieldy, and it included men .Jrho could not be classed among the natural leaders of the Party. It was virtually without a head, for the Marquis of Salisbury has throughout the last n've years been so deeply immersed in the diplomacy he loves so well, that he has had little- time to spare lor the general supervision expected of a Prime Minister. His health, too, has suffered from the shock ol his wifels death no less than from the constant strain of work. During August, when the Chinese crisis was at its height and his presence was urgently required in London, he was compelled to seek rest at ' Schlucht, in the Vosgea 'country. It ia contended in many quarters that this journey in search of health was, the cause o* the vacillation of the British authorities with reference to landing troops at Shanghai, and to other matters connected with the Far ]Jast. When Lord Salisbury was absent from England, two of the. most important offices ift " th,e Qabinet were practically in abeyance, for he combines in hi» own person the Premiership and the Foreign SacreterysMp. The general impression voiced by leading journals like the Spectator was that the administrative efficiency, of the Cabinet demanded a reduction in the number- of its members, the separation of the offices, of Premier and Secretary of State fQr- Foreign Affairs,- the appointment of a really strong man as Secretary <rf State for War, and the introduction of new blood. It w easy to understand the difficulties Lord Salisbury would have to face in divesting himself of either of the offices he now holds. As titular Premier he keeps in harmony the two sections of the Unionist Party Which may be roughly classified aji the Balfour or Cecil faction and the Chamberlain or Progressive Unionist • faction. If he selected a strong succeisor as Premier, ho would be compelled to draw upon one or other of these sections, wherea3 the appointment of a man like the Duke of Devonshire would mean little more than the prolongation of a titular Premiership. As for the Foreign Qffipe, Lo.rd Salisbury, no doubt, rightly- believes that- he alone- amongst the members of his party hold's the thread that will guide the wanderer in the intricate, m.aze of international politics. While foreign affairs are in their present critical condition he naturally hesitates to entrust the policy of the Empire to less experienced hands. It is not surprising, therefore, to learn on the authority ot our London contemporary, the Standard, that his Lordship is, for the present <at least, tp retain both the Premiership and the office of Minister for Foreign Affair's. It does not, however, follow that this arrangement will, if made, be more than temporary. Lord Salisbury's health evidently requires care and he would be strengthened as Pralnier if he were free Irom the trying! departmental work of the Foreign Om'ce. Outside the present Cabinet there are four men who might in certain circum stances become candidates for Cabinev rank, and either of the four isja possible Secretary for Foreign Affairs. ' These men are Lord Cronaer, who was recently summoned to England for some special purpose, Lord Curzon, of Kedlestone, who is ruanoured to, be leaving India shortly, Sir Alfred Milner, who has proved in South Africa his diplomatic ability and peady tact-, and Lord Rosebery, who 'as the leader of Liberal Imperialism is certainly out of sympathy with a large portion of the Liberal Opposition, and would (there is reason to believe) be more, at home in the Liberal Unionist than in the orthodox Liberal ranks. Foreign affairs should not be iParty questions iv the ordinary sense of the term, and it is not always advisable to have them too freely discussed in the popular Chamber, hence if Lord Salisbury does ultimately recommend to the Queen the appointment pf another Foreign Minister, he will probably choose a member of the House of Lords. Lord Curzon is an Irish peer, so he has nofe a seat in the Upper Chamber, but lie might if need be, and if he were willing %o forsake the stirring atmosphere of tlie Commons, be made a peer of the United Kingdom. Lord Curzon is already a member of the House of Lords, whil» Siv Alfred Milner has undoubtedly earned a peerage. These are admittedly matters of conjecture, but failing Lord Rosebery, the appointment to the Foreign Office of a practical adminis--trator such as Lord Curzon, Lord Cronier, or Sir Alfred Milner would greatly strengthen the administrative capacity of the Cabinet.