POLITICAL CRISIS IN ENGLAND.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1217, 28 June 1895, Page 34

POLITICAL CRISIS IN ENGLAND.

London, June 21.

The Government has been defeated on the Army Estimates by a majority of seven votes on an amendment proposed by Mr Brodrick, member for the Guilford Division of Surrey, protesting against the inadequacy of the reserves of ammunition, especially cordite. Mr H. Campbell-Bannerman, Secretary of State for the War Department, forthwith moved to report progress. Later in the evening a Cabinet meeting was held, and it is believed that a crisis is imminent.

London, June 22.

Mr Campbell-Bannerman stated that the military advisers to the Government consider the supply of small arms and ammunition ample and sufficient.

The division on the vote was 132 votes to 125.

The Government was completely surprised at the result.

Sir Charles Dilko and one of the Parnellites voted for the amendment.

The Daily News considers that the amendment is a traitor's trick to let foreigners know that England is short of gunpowder.

The Times believes the Government was surprised at the result.

The Standard asserts that in the event of Mr Campbell-Bannerman insisting on retiring, the entire Cabinet must follow. It is understood that Mr CampbellBannerman has resigned, and that this will entail the resignation of the Cabinet. London, June 23. This morning Cabinet sat for five hours. Absolutely conflicting statements are current respecting the position of affairs. One is to the effect that Mr CampbellBannerman has withdrawn his resignation, on the understanding that a motion will be submitted in the House on Monday.

Another is that he will adhere to his first intention to resign, and that the Government will therefore resign. Lord Eosebery is now at Windsor, but this visit was arranged before the crisis.

Seven Ministers were absent from the division.

It is reported that the Cabinet has decided to dissolve Parliament, as a majority of their supporters favour an immediate appeal to the country. The Queen gave audience to Lord Eosebery at Windsor, and he stayed over to-day. The Liberal Party have issued an urgent whip for Monday in view of the likelihood of a Government statement. .

The Conservatives are enthusiastic at the turn of affairs.

The Nationalists are opposing a dissolution.

The Chronicle says that Mr CampbellBannerman privately consulted Mr Balfour prior to the meeting of the House, and that it was understood that the latter promised him support, but afterwards betrayed him. The Observer declares that the Government has decided to resign. Mr Brod rick's motion was to reduce Mr Campbell-Bannerman's salary with a view to condemn the deficiency of small arms and ammunition.

Mr Campbell-Bannerman declined to reveal the stocks hitherto secret, and said that the experts and the advisers to the department had assured him that the stocks were sufficient.

Mr Balfour suspected the fact of the figure being concealed, and did not believe it possible to comply with the regulation. Mr Wm. Woodall, Financial Secretary to the War Office, declared that Kynoch delivered 5,000,000 cordite cartridges yearly. London, June 23. Lord Eosebery's Ministry has resigned. Lord Salisbury has been summoned to

form the new Ministry; and, with the assistance of the Duke of Devonshire, he is forming a coalition Ministry from the Conservative and Unionist ranks. It is expected, that the new Ministers will go before their • constituents for reelection within five weeks. London, June 24. It is officially stated that the Queen has accepted Lord Bosebery's resignation. Lord Salisbury was summoned to Windsor, and agreed to form a Ministry. A coalition Government of Conservatives and Liberal-Unionists is regarded as certain. The Marquis of Salisbury and the Duke of Devonshire have a meeting to-day. London, June 24-. The new Cabinet will include the following : . Lord Salisbury, Minister for Foreign Affairs. The Duke of Devonshire, Lord President of the Council. Mr Balfour, First. Lord of the TreaSU lt" is expected that Sir R. Webster will be Lord Chancellor; Mr Goschen or Sir M. Hicks-Beach, Chancellor of the Exchequer; Lord Knutsford, Secretary for the Colonies; Mr Curzon, Secretary for India; Mr Chamberlain, Secretary for War- Mr Gorst, Postmaster-General; Mr Chaplin, President of the Board of Agriculture; Mr Jackson, Chief Secretary for Ireland $ Sir H. James, Home Secretary. Later.

The Times says that only the principal positions in the new Ministry will be filled before an appeal is made to the electors. The paper hints that Lord Salisbury will be Premier ; the Duke of Devonshire, Foreign Secretary ; Mr Balfour, Leader of the House of Commons and First Lord of the Treasury; Mr Goschen, First Lord of the Admiralty; Mr Chamberlain, Secretary for War; Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, Chancellor of the Exchequer; and Mr Courtney, President of the Board of Trade. . - ... The Standard says that Sir H. James and the Marquis of Lansdowne will join the Cabinet.

Lord Salisbury, Mr Balfour, the Duke of Devonshire and Mr Chamberlain conferred together, after which Lord Salisbury had an audience with the Queen at Windsor.

Sir Wm. Harcourt made a statement to the House, in which he said Ministers as a body associated themselves with Mr Cainp-bell-Bannerman's resignation, inasmuch as they were unable to obtain votes for Supply. The Cabinet had, therefore, resigned, but they would hold office until their successors were appointed. He begged the House to pass the Pacific Seal Fisheries Bill, and send it immediately to the House of Lords, i

Mr, Balfour complimented Sir Wm. Harcourt on his leadership in the House, but said he. thought the Government should have asked for a dissolution of Parliament. The House of Commons then adjourned till to-morrow,; "Mr Campbell-Bannerman receiving a great ovation as the members dispersed. In the; course of his statement in the House of Commons; Sir William Harcourt said the Government absolutely identified themselves with Mr Campbell-Banner-man's, policy. There never was, he added, an abler or more respected Minister of War than that gentleman. Mr Balfour said that all parties regarded Sir William Harcourt as one of the greatest ornaments of the House.

London, June 25

Lord Salisbury has postponed the acceptance of the call to form a Ministry pending assurances that there will be no obstructive tactics to delay the granting of Supply and the winding up of the business of the House, in order to prevent a dissolution before the harvest. The Radicals are reluctant, however, to forego the tactical advantages which the even state of parties gives them. The Daily-News advises Lord Rosebery to meet what it terms the impudent request with a peremptory refusal. The Times says that Mr Chamberlain prefers the portfolio of Secretary of State for the Colonies to that of Secretary for War.

Mr Gladstone has hastily returned from Germany, and dined with Lord Rosebery yesterday. '. ■;■•,.■-, . Lord Salisbury proposes to dissolve at an early date; probably in ten days. It is expected that Sir E. Clarke will be Attorney-General, and Mr Carson SolicitorGeneral. Mr Long is suggested as Secretary for Ireland. The Times thinks that if Supply is taken now, the election must be deferred until after the harvest, say the end of October.

The Hon W. St. J. Brodrick, who proposed hostile amendment, is a coining fnan i$ the' ranks. He is the eldest' sot*' of Yiseount Middleton, and is #Q "years of age- Of him the jpaU M<si -Majtetie said in ,1892, before the resignation of the Salisbury Ministry : He is a very industrious man [a quality to which he owed a second class in Modern History at Oxford), and made a position for himself in the House by being one of the few members thereof who took the trouble to master the technicalities of the Irish Land Bill. Ho is now Financial Secretary to the War Office, and is regarded as one of the promising young men on the Tory side. During the late- Parliament he especially distinguished himself by his vigorous adoption of Pigottism. He is reported to have said concerning the forged

letter that "he would not mince matters, but would call it Mr Pamelas letter," and it is not leported that he ever made suitable apology.