BRITISH CONSERVATISM AND THE PRIMROSE LEAGUE ... - ideals

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Conservative Cabinet.
Balfour, Akers-Douglas, and Bartley were all
staunchly loyal to Salisbury bound in addition by ties, respectively,
as nephew to Salisbury, Conservative Whip in the Commons, and Party
Agent.
The agreement marked the end of a serious challenge by the
Union to Conservative leadership until the party's defeat in 1906. It
also served notice of Salisbury's bid for unrivaled party leadership, a
move to outmaneuver both Northcote and Churchill in his quest for
dominance.
A minor provision of the agreement granted official status
to the Primrose League.
It marked the first formal recognition of the
League by Salisbury since its formation.
The reference, while
ostensibly a concession to Churchill, conceivably offered Salisbury a
safeguard against any action Churchill might take to utilize the League
as the next base of operations for his assault on the party leadership.
The action was also potentially advantageous in that it represented a
positive step toward placing the League firmly under the rubric of the
Conservative party.
The enhanced communications between League and party were not
long in coming.
In September, 1884 the Grand Council decided to send a
circular to various Conservative associations throughout the country
asking them to join.
Hicks Beach was consulted regarding leaflets and
in November seven hundred notices were sent out to M.P.'s and
prospective Conservative candidates asking them for their support.
Council plans to direct the canvassing of outvoters were submitted to