The Portland daily press., 1878-11-11
ENGLAND'S POLICY
Reviewed by Earl Beaconsfield,
The Situation i'm the East Not
Regarded as Dangerous.

LONDON, Nov. 9.-The annual cerem onial of
swearing 10 the new Lord Mayor, Sir Charles
Whetham, was performed today in the GUS
tomary manner, and banquet followed the
Inauguration IN the evening.
Lord Beacons6eld was enthusiastically an
plauded on rising to reply to the toast-"Her
Majesty's Minister'S After review of past
events he touched upon the alarmist theot les
relative to the imminent Invasion of India.
only to be avoided by entering into struggle
with some great unk nown power He declared
that the governments opinion was that the in
vasion. OF India was hardly practicable, as the
base OF operations of any possible foe was SO
remote. 1t was true that the north western
frontier was not scientifically rounded, and
foe might be able to cause embarrassment by
compelling us to maintain large and expen-
sive force thereon. This possible evil had
occupied the attention of successive admins
trations, and circumstances had arisen again
which forced it on the immediate attention of
the government. They believed that the In
vason would become possible if Asia Minor
and the Euphrates valley were held by very
strong or very weak power, and had there
fore taken measures which he believed would
soon be consummated, of which the Anglo.
Turkish convention, which secured possession
of these localities to our ally is Chief to remove
the causes OF the apprehension concerning our
frontier. We shall live, l hope, on good terms
with our immediate neighbors, and perhaps
with some who are more remote.
Io regard to Cyprus, Bsaconsfield said that
he thonsht IL wise to occupy an armed position
where the Sultan could feel that il any danger
prevented him from carrying out refor ms
which be willingly agreed to make, he could look
with confidence to assistance with an ally close
to his frontier. The execution of the treaty of
Berlin and the ratification of the northwestern
frontier of India would give to England power
and prosperity.
| Turning from exclusively Anglo Indian in
! terests, Beaconsfeld pointed out that there was
| another aspect of the Eastern question which
| involved the independence of all our hopes, and
| especially of the Mediterranean powers
The governments policy would prevent the
fatal supremacy of any individual estate,
England and other powers at the Congress
sought to do this by establishing the Sultan as
truly independent prince.
Referring to the statements that the treaty
of Berlin would never be carried out, he pointed
| to the number of Its provisions which had been
already fulfilled, although only one-third Of
| the time for its execution had elapsed. He
| emphatically and repeatedly declared that the
| government received no intimation whatever
| from any of the Signatures that they desired
| or intended to evade complete fufillment oil
the treaty. He thought it quite impos sible fol
any signatary to attempt to withdraw feom its
| engagements, but could say on the part of Hell
Majesty's government that they will not be a
| signatary which will retire from their policy
and that their determination is that the treaty
VI DefIu suaA pe catrieu ous III tue epIlt anu
to the letter, and believing that the Berlin
| settlement is one that will advance progress
| and civilization and secure the maintenance Of
peace, the government would if necessary
appeal with confidence to the people to support
them in maintaining the treaty with all theil
energy aud resources. (Cheers.)
Lord Beacopsfeld denied that the state Of
| affairs was one of danger, although from the
important nature of the Berlin settlement
which was proceeding, it was necnssaril5
serious. He warned his hearers not to place
| any trust in the rumors that England il
powerless to assert her policy which she
believes to be one of justice aud truth. HI
was confident that it would not become q:
| Geneva, Venice or Holland.