The announcement of his resignation was made by Mr. Balfour
at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the City of London Conservative Association in Basinghall Street on Wednesday. The decision, he said, had been forced on him by the tremendous increasing strain imposed by longer Sessions and extra-Parliamentary work. Although not yet 795 sixty-four he had been nearly thirty-eight years in Parlia- ment, and of the twenty-five years that had elapsed since he first joined the Cabinet, seventeen were passed ,in office in the service of the Crown. He therefore wished to retire before he could be accused of growing petrified in old courses or unable to deal with the great problems which were perpetually arising in this changing world with the freshness and elasticity desirable in those who have to conduct great concerns. He had chosen the present juncture because he thought it was the best time in the interests of the party and his successor. Some people thought there was a certain feel- ing of unrest in the party, but personally he did not believe that there was anything exceptional in its state. The outlook was hopeful, they were on the up-grade, and he believed that there was a growing mass of public opinion behind them, and a steadily growing disgust among all the better classes of the population with the Government. Later on, in response to a resolution of regret passed by the meeting, Mr. Balfour depre- cated the view that his retirement from the leadership would cause consternation in the party, and urged on his hearers the absolute necessity of closing their ranks and of according their new leader, when once selected, generous and unqualified support.
