BALEARIC ISLANDS 392 BALIOL BALEARIC ISLANDS, a group of 4 large and 11 small islands, S. E. of Spain, including Majorca, Minorca, Iviza, and Formentera. The Romans annexed the islands in 123 B. c. after the de- struction of Carthage which had held them previously. After being taken by the Vandals, under Genseric, and later by the Moors, they were taken in 1232 by James I., King of Aragon, and con- stituted a kingdom, which in 1375 was united to Spain. The islands now form a Spanish province, with an area of 1,935 square miles. Pop. about 350,000. BALER, a town in the N. E. part of Luzon, Philippine Islands, on the Pacific coast. The town is noted for the heroic defense of a Spanish garrison in 1899, during a siege by the Filipinos, lasting 11 months. Baler was occupied by Amer- ican troops in March, 1900. Fop. about 3,000. BALFE, MICHAEL WILLIAM, com- poser, was born in Dublin, May 15, 1808. In his ninth year he made his debut as a violinist, having begun to compose at least two years earlier. In 1823 he went to London, and, during 1825-1826, studied in Italy under Paer, Galli, Federici, and Rossini. In 1826 he wrote the music for a ballet, "La Perouse," performed at Milan; and in 1827 he sang in the Ital- ian opera at Paris with great success. In 1833 he returned to England, and in 1846 was appointed conductor of the London Italian Opera. He died Oct. 20, 1870. Of his numerous operas, operettas, and other compositions the most success- ful have been "The Bohemian Girl" (1843); "The Rose of Castile" (1857), and "II Talismano" (1874). If Balfe was wanting in depth of dramatic force, he had command of orchestral resources ; and his compositions are distinguished by fluency, facility, and melodic power. BALFOUR, ARTHUR JAMES, a British statesman, born in Scotland, July 25, 1848; educated at Eton and at Trin- ity College, Cambridge; entered Parlia- ment in 1874; was private secretary to his uncle, the Marquis of Salisbury, in 1878-1880, and accompanied him to the Berlin Congress; President of the Local Government Board in 1885; Secretary for Scotland in 1886; Chief Secretary for Ireland in 1887-1891 ; member of the Gold and Silver Commission in 1887- 1888; First Lord of the Treasury in 1891-1892; became the leader of the Con- servative opposition in the House of Commons in 1892. He was Prime Min- ister 1902-1905. He carried through the Education Act (1902) and the Irish Land Act (1904), and created the Committee of National Defense. Chamberlain's res- ignation as Colonial Secretary was fol- lowed by his campaign for Colonial pref- erence and a protective tariff and led to the defeat of the Unionists in 1906. Bal- ARTHUR JAMES BALFOUR four lost his seat for East Manchester, but was immediately returned from Lon- don. In 1911 Balfour resigned to Bonar Law leadership of the opposition. In 1915 he joined Asquith's coalition cabi- net as First Lord of the Admiralty, and was Minister of Foreign Affairs, 1916- 1919. In 1917 he visited the United States as a member of the British Com- mission. He was one of the British rep- resentatives at the Peace Congress of Versailles. In October, 1919, he was made Lord President of the Council. His pub- lications include "A Defense of Philo- sophic Doubt" (1879) ; "Essays and Ad- dresses" (1893) ; "The Foundations of Belief" (1895) ; "Insular Trade" (1903) ; "Criticism and Beauty" (1909) ; "Theism and Humanism" (1915). BALI, an island of the Indian Archi- pelago E. of Java, belonging to Holland; greatest length, 85 miles, greatest breadth, 55 miles; area, about 2,170 square miles. It consists chiefly of a series of volcanic mountains, of which the loftiest, Agoong (11,326 feet), be- came active in 1843, after a long period of quiescence. Principal products, rice, cocoa, coffee, indigo, cotton, etc. The people are akin to those of Java and are mostly Brahmins in religion. It is di- vided into two districts and several au- tonomous states under native rajahs, and forms one colony with Lombok, the united population being estimated in 1918 at 1,344,880. BALIOL, or BALLIOL, JOHN, of Barnard Castle, Northumberland, father
