CABLEGRAMS. [PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.—COPYRIGHT.]

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 11098, 15 December 1898, Page 3

CABLEGRAMS. [PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. — COPYRIGHT.]

ENGLISH POLITICS. A SPLIT IN THE OPPOSITION. SIR W. V. HARCOURT RESIGNS THE LEADERSHIP. Becoivoil December 15, 1 n.m. London, December 14. The Eight Hon. Sir W. V. Harcourt member for Monmouthshire West, ant leader of the Opposition in the Ilouse o Commons, in a dignified lotler to tin Eight Hon. John Morley, M.P. fo: Montroso Burghs, resigns his position He considers that tlio disputed leadershi] was bosot by distracted sections, and con flicting interests have mado the positiot impossible any further for him to hold Ho declined to bo a eandidato for an} contested position. Mr Morloy, in reply, sympathetically ondorsod tho action of Sir W. V, Har court. He declarod that ho was not surprised that tho situation had become intolerable, such an indignant leadership having been so incessantly challenged. The newspapers are uncertain whether to regard the resignation as filial or as a clever coup to rally the party. Sir H. Campbell-2annerman, M.P. foi Stirling "Burghs, the Eight Hon. H. H. Asquith (Fife East), and Sir H. H. Fowler (Wolverhampton East), are mentioned as possible successors.