The San Francisco call., 1896-01-16
England Would Not Quarrel With
the Young Giant of
the West.
ATTITUDE IN THE TRANsvAAL
Foreign Rulers Warned Not TO In
terfere With the Suzerainty
of the Queen.

LONDON, ENG, Jan. 15.-At meeting
in Manchester this evening, over which he
presided, Right Hon. Arthur J. Balfour,
First Lord OF the Treasury, in the course
of an address which he delivered made
incidental mention Of Emperor William OF
Germany, which was greeted by his
hearers with groans and boots.
Mr.. Balfour admitted, with sorrow and
reluctance, that the concert OF action OF
the European powers has failed to intro
duce reforms in the government OF Turkey,
without which he feared 1t would be I'M
possible to hope for an early settlement OF
the Eastern question.
Referring to the Transvaal difficulty Mr..
Balfour declared that he could not discuss
the gravity OF the offense of those who
would be arraigned for their operations in
the South African republic, but he would
say he was sure that those who were
responsible for the movement there were
not guided by mean, sordid motives. The
Government was OF the opinion that it
was impossible Tor affairs in the Trans vaal
TO reach satisfactory condition while its
Government was founded upon so artificial
and equitable basis as it is at present, the
,
paying the greater proportion OF the taxes
and not having the smallest share in the
Government.
President Kruger, Mr.. Balfour admitted,
had displayed great generosity, and he
hoped, therefore, that the promised re-
forms would not be delayed longer than
was necess sry. 1t IS beyond question that
the TransyaaI was free in the administra-
ton O. ffs internal affairs buJ its external
affairs were subject TO the control Of Great
Britain-call 1t suZerainty or by any other
name, there is no mistaking this fact-and
that foreign interference would not be per-
mitted. At this point the speaker was
interrupted by prolonged cheers. Never
Iheless Mr.. Balfour said, he was not
aware that any foreign country was pre-
pared to dispute the doctrine. This state
ment was greeted with renewed cheers.
Touching upon the Venezuelan dispute,
Mr Baliour said the people of the United
States of America appeared to suspect
Great Britain of running counter to the
Monroe doctrine. He dilated upon this
doctrine. constituting it to the effect that
the American continent must not be re-
garded as q field for European COLOMBIA
llOu, anu IDaI European ud-lOnS we're not
entitled to interfere in the domestic affairs
Of the New World, and said that the United
States and Great Britain concurred in this
construction. He was not aware, he con-
tinued, that there had been any change of
mind, and did not believe that it would be
possible to find an individual IN the coun-
try who was opposed to what is known as
the forward policy of America.
Great Britain was content to do her best
with the colonies she possessed, and did
not wish to interfere with other States or
acquire more territory.
He believed that if the Venezuelan Gov
eminent had requested British protection
the honor would have beer declined by
every statesman namable. He referred to
the long duration of the boundary dispute,
to Lord Salisbury's dispatch, to the prog
ress of compiling documents relating to
the matter here and to the appointment of
2 United States commission to determine
boundary, and added that it would be
hard indeed if the common sense of the
Anglo-Saxon race was unable to settle any
dispute without war. [Cheersl
Mr.. Balfour said he had been deeply and