In the absence of Mr. Balfour, Lord Lansdowne on Thursday
night addressed a gathering of Conservative agents who were assembled at dinner at the Holborn Restaurant, and stated that they were met in circumstances by no means discouraging. If that is so, Lord Lansdowne must be a person absolutely incapable of discouragement. When he remembers what the Unionist party was two years ago, and what it is now, when it cannot win Brighton, and will be pro. foundly grateful if it can just keep Chichester, and yet is full of hope, his optimism must be truly invincible. Where other men see with pain the once great and united party falling in ruin, he is apparently unable to detect the slightest flaw in the structure. Fortunately, the Foreign Secretary did not confine himself to declaring how happy was the condition of the party. His remarks in regard to the Japanese Alliance were of real importance. He welcomed Sir Edward Grey's expression of hope that the Agreement would be maintained, and expressed the wish that when the time for renewal came, that Agreement might be strengthened and consolidated rather than renewed in its old form. Such a development might prove a greater security for peace. This is not the occasion to discuss a further development of the Alliance, but it is, at any rate, safe to say that there will be no opposi- tion from any serious quarter to the loyal renewal of the Alliance in its present form.
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