THE LIBERALS AT HOME.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1285, 15 October 1896, Page 36

THE LIBERALS AT HOME.

London, October 8,

Lord Rosebery, in a letter to Mr Ellis, states that he resigned the leadership of the Liberal Party on the ground of the apparent difference -with a considerable mass of the Liberals over the Eastern question. He had had some conflict of opinion, he said, with Mr Gladstone, who scarcely gave an explicit support anywhere. He (Lord Rosebery) was unwilling to divide his energies or to try the faith of the Liberals, and desired his freedom before speaking at Edinburgh on Friday next. The Daily News expresses profound astonishment at the National Federation unanimously deciding that Lord Rosebery's line in reference to Armenia was a wise one, and that Mr Gladstone’s action was the cause of His Lordship’s resignation. It advises that a vote of confidence be carried to Lord Rosebery, with a request that he shall resume the position of leader, unless Mr Gladstone is willing to assume the leadership. The Daily Chronicle is delighted at the trouble, and claims that Sir William Vernon Harcourt should succeed to the leadership of the Liberal Party. The Times states that Mr Gladstone’s efforts to fan the Armenian flame are unbearable, and that Lord Rosebery was right to resign. The Standard considers the dispute leaves a cleavage in the Liberal Party as wide and deep as when the Unionists retired.

London, October 8.

In the course of an interview, Mr Gladstone declared that he was unable to understand the reason of Lord Rosebery’s resignation of the Liberal Leadership.

London, October 10,

Lord Rosebery addressed a public meeting at Edinburgh last night. There was an immense gathering, and the speaker received a great ovation. Among those on the platform were Mr H. H. Asquith, late Home Secretary ; Mr James Bryce, ex-president of the Board of Trade ; Sir H. H. Fowler, ex-Secretary of State for India ; Mr Arnold Morley, ex-Postmaster-General ; and Mr John Blair Balfour (Q.C.), ex - Lord Advocate for Scotland ; besides many Liberal members of the House of Commons.

His Lordship delivered a powerful speech, which was received with great enthusiasm.

Referring to the Eastern question, Lord Rosebery warmly remarked that, in the matter of reform, Armenia needed guidance, not stimulus, -and he passed unmeasured censure on the Sultan and the ruffianly Kurds. The remedy, he said, whatever shape it was to take, must cover the entire Eastern question. Many of the suggested remedies were futile, and, to his mind, dangerous, and he disagreed with all those proposed by Mr Gladstone. The suggested deposition of the Sultan of Turkey was illusory, and to recall the British Ambassador would be unwise. That would be a great affront, and could but help in the drift towards war. It would be useless to threaten the Sultan, and then withdraw from the position. He discouraged

the transfer of Turkey to Russia, but was willing to surrender Cyprus to anyone except Turkey if it was likely to secure concerted action in settling the difficulty. He combated the opinion that the Powers were determined to fight if Great Britain acted alone, and at the same time he doubted whether the colonies were enthused with the war spirit. The Armenians, more probably, were like the Americans, and would prefer diplomacy in the redress of those grievances which were not vital to themselves. Concerted action was, he said, the only panacea for the Eastern question, and it was impossible to long postpone action. The House of Peers was impatient in the matter, but was averse to taking action unless it was vigorously supported both inside and outside <pf Parliament. To Mr Gladstone he gave the coup de grace because, he said, he never desired to appear in sharp conflict with his venerated friend. His Lordship said he had received a -long and affectionate letter from Mr Gladstone on the matter, and, in concluding, thanked the colleagues with whom he has been associated in his leadership of the party. He specially mentioned Mr Asquith. Mr Asquith, in reply, said that Lord Rosebery had supreme claims to the leadership, and was the only successor of Gladstone.

A vote of confidence in Lord Rosebery was passed. His Lordship was asked to reconsider his decision.

Lord Rosebery said he had resigned after mature reflection, and he considered the step necessary. The speech is considered as likely to seriously embarrass Sir William Vernon Harcourt’s position. • In the course of an interview, Lord Rosebery, referring to the resignation by him of the Liberal leadership, said the situation had been untenable for some time, and he had determined to resign after the attitude taken up by Mr Gladstone on the Eastern question.

Fully 12,000 people were unable to gain admission at the Edinburgh meeting. Many prominent Liberals are urging His Lordship not to retire. Lord Rosebery's references to reforms in Armenia were received with great enthusiasm.

At the Edinburgh meeting, Lord Rosebery said that ever since the elections his colleagues had held his resignation.

Mr T. E. Ellis, to whom Lord Rosebery has written confiding the news of his resignation, has been chief Liberal whip since, March, 1894. It has long been known that the advanced wing of the Liberal Party have looked askance at the party being led by a member of the House of Lords, and it was only by the exercise of much pressure that a split was avoided in the very early hours of Lord Rosebery’s leadership. The suggestion as to Gladstone’s resumption of the leadership is not so wild a dream as some might imagine, but family influence will be too great, it is thought, for him to break his resolution and once more take up the cares of office.