THE FOREIGN OFFICE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 885, 11 December 1916, Page 8

THE FOREIGN OFFICE.

MR BALFOUR TAKES CHARGE. Renter's Telegram). LONDON, December 8. It is stated that Mr Balfour will be Foreign Secretary, and that Lord Robert Cecil wili remain Under-Se-cretary for Foreign Affairs and Minster iii Charge of the Blockade. A LIBERAL MEETING. LORD HALDANE JEERED. SJistralian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, December 8. Two hundred Liberal members of both Houses of Parliament met at the Reform Club. Crowds witnessed the arrival of Mr Asquith, and gave him an ovation. A few hysterical suffragettes howled, "Traitor," and women greeted Lord Haldane with cries of "Kaiser Haldane." The women also crealed considerable disturbance over Viscount Grey, whom the police escorted to the Club.

PRESS COMMENT. "DAILY MAIL" DIATRIBES. Australian and N ?. Cable Association. LONDON, December <). Viscount Grey, at the Reform Club meeting, said that Mr Balfour would be the next Foreign Secretary, Lord Robert Cecil retaining his position as Minister of the Blockade. He paid a high tribute to Lord Robert Cecil's able and public-spirited devotion to duty. "If Mr Balfour is at the Foreign Office I will feel that the whole work of our relation with our Allies and the neutrals will be in able and sympathetic hands." The "Daily Chronicle" states:— "Mr Balfour enjoys a- European reputation, and Mr Lloyd George has been fortunate in securing the services of this great gentleman for this great office. The ravings of the Norlhelilfe Press against Mr Balfour arc the gauge of the ignorance of these journals." The "Daily -Mail" protests against the inclusion of Mr A. Balfour in the Cabinet, saying:—"We do not want Haldane or his friends to meddle in the blockade or peace negotiations. It is not very generous conduct on Mr Asquith's part in a time of grave national peril to refuse Mi' Lloyd George the right to draw the mem- - bers of his Cabinet from all parties. Several energetic young Liberals have "been prevented from serving Mr Lloyd George owing to the terrorism of the Haldane gang, but there are many distinguished Liberals in the new Government who care more for winning the war than for party tricks." The "Daily Mail" says that "the Haldane gang have secured possession of the Liberal Party funds and the party machine by the expedient of maintaining that Mr Asquith is the leader of the Liberal Party, and by pretending that Mr Lloyd George is no longer a Liberal. The Asquithites, however, will fail miserably when the trial of strength comes in the House of Commons." The "Daily News" s'ays:—"The appointment of Mr Balfour and Lord Robert Cecil will inspire confidence not only in Britain hut in every Allied and neutral capital. In the conduct of delicate negotiations they have no superior in the Cabinet." The "Morning Post" says:—"The supreme need of the moment is to re-shape the whole naval policy. The conduct of the war must be trusted to seamen. The Foreign Office must not dictate a policy, hut must obey the instructions. The Navy must give Greece a lesson without interference from the Foreign Office. Viscount Grey has publicly acknowledged that the policy enshrined in the Declaration of London is a mistake."

"A FEW FOSSILS." MR GEORGE'S KIND HEART. United Service. LONDON, December 8. Lord Northcliffe writes:—"Mr Lloyd George is now the head of the British, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand, and South African war efforts, upon which the winning of the war primarily devolves. Distance and circumstances alone prevented the inclusion in Ihe Cabinet of representatives of the Dominions, because the war quintuples the value of lime. Mr Lloyd George was compelled to choose his colleagues with lightning rapidity. He is just a little too kindhearted, and has, therefore cumbered his Government with some fossils and has-beens. I am convinced that the Lloyd George Government will win the war, settle Ireland, and cement the Empire—but it needs pruning."

The cable, news in this issue accredited to "The Times" has appeared in that journal, but only where expressly stated is such OCWS the editorial opinion of "The Times."