Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-11-10
LORD SALISBURY
On Present Attitude Of Great
Britain Before World.
Friendly Toward All But viii Allow No
Tramp|ing on Rights.
Americas New Position Among Nations Favor
able to British Interests.

London, Nov. 9.-The annual banquet
of the lord mayor of London took place
in the Guild hall, this evening. There
were about $50 guests present including
cabinet ministers and other distin-
guished people and their wives. After
the formal reception in the library
there was the usual procession to the
great hall, which served as the ban
quoting place. After the usual loyal
toasts. the navy and army were toast
ed, Admiral Sir William Kennedy and
General Lord Wolsley responded for
their respective forces, which were de-
scribed as being in perfect state Of
preparedness to meet any power that
should dispute Great Britains just
claims.
The brevity of the speeches showed
the general anxiety to hear the Mar
quis of Salisbury, who, on rising to
respond to the toast of Her Majesty's
Minister'S was greeted with prolonged
cheers.
The premier began by saying that
succession of events abroad had occa-
stoned grave anxiety to the ministry,
for year past. He alluded to the MUIR
der of the Empress Of Austria, for the
double purpose of expressing The UNI
versal regret experienced on account
of the crime and for announcing that
Great Britain had accepted an invita-
ton to take part in conference which
would be called to determine upon the
measures to blot out anarchy. At the
same time, he was bound to say he had
no great hope that anything would
ahate this horrible, monstrous afflic-
ton of humanity
After referring in a laudatory man
ner to the British campaigns in India
and in the Soudan, the premier turned
to the Cretan question and the concert
of Europe. He said he was afraid that
the proceedings of the concert were not
always admired. At the same time, he
pointed out, patient application COM
bined with the moral strength of
Europe has at last succeeded in full
filling the promise given to the Cretans
of giving them autonomy under the
suZerainty of the Sultan.
This solution of this most difficult
problem has witnessed displays Of
splendid and unexpected qualities and
diplomacy on the part of the admirals,
who had successfully accomplished
what the cabinets of Europe had been
unable to do. / have sometimes
thought that if the cabinets were all
dismissed and admirals were installed
in their places Europe would get on
better''
Turning to the crisis with France,
the premier remarked: I'VE have had
quite recently to consider whether the
question of European war was not
very near. But with great interest and
consideration the result has turned out
happily owing to the great judgment
and common sence displayed by France
under circumstances of unusual diff
Guilty, which, l think, have relieved
Europe of very dangerous and threat
ening storm.
while matters were in suspense, the
government was necessarily forced to
take precautions that it should not be
taken unawares. The precautions
were most prompt and effective, but,
the immediate necessity for them has
passed off. There has been some sur
prise on both sides of the channel mt
the fact that those preparations have
not suddenly ceased, but it is impossi-
Bile to stop them at a moments notice.
After referring to the various rumOrs
of intended action arising out of these
preparations, including the seizure of
Syria and Crete and the declaration Of
a protectorate over Egypt-the latter
allusion being greeted with immense
cheering-Lord Salisbury continued
Il am sorry to say l cannot rise to the
height of the aspirations indicated by
the cheering of the audience. do not
venture to prophecy, if we are forced
by others into position we do not now
occupy, what may occur: but we are
we'll satisfied with the existing state of
things and we do not think any cause
has arisen to necessitate effort on our
part at present to modify it.
The position causes occasional fric-
ton; but taking the situation as a
whole and considering the feeling Of
other people as well as our own, we
can reasonably rest for the present
with the existing state of affairs.
must not be understood as meaning
that Great Britain's position in Egypt
is the same now as it was before the
fall of Omdurman; but we earnestly
hope that circumstances will not make
1T necessary materially to modify that
position, as we are convinced the
world would not then get on so peace
ably as now
Referring again to the war prepara-
tons and asking his hearers to look at
the state of the world, Lord Salisbury
observed: 1.-THE Gear has invited a
congress to provide for the disarmament
of the world, but while we offer our
heartiest tribute to his motives and are
willing to assist and sympathize in
every way until the happy day when
his ASPIRATIONS are crowned with sue
cess. we must still provide precautions
needful to counterfeit the danger sur
rounding us. In some respects this
era. this great epoch in the history OF
man is marked by happy omens. 1t is
the first year in which the mighty force
of the American republic has introduce
ed among nations whose dominions are
expanding and whose instruments to
certain extent are war
Continued on page 3.)