The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-11-10
EGYPT.
Salisbury on
Situation.
NO PROTECTORATE.
Americas Appearance in
Asiatic Diplonacy Grave.

London, Nov. 9.-The annual banquet
Of the lord mayor of London took place
at the GuiIdhall this evening There
were about $50 guests present, including
members of the diplomatic corps, cab
met ministers and other distinguished
people and their wives.
After the usual loyal toasts, the navy
William Kennedy and General Lord
Wolsely responding for their respective
forces, which were described as being
in a perfect state of preparedness to
meet any power that should dispute
Great Britain's just claims.
The premier, Lord Salisbury, in dis
cussing the crisis with France, re-
marked. I'VE have had quite recently
TO consider whether the question of a
European war was not very near. But,
with great interest and consideration,
the result has turned out happily,
through the great judgment and COM
mon sense displayed by France under
circumstances of unusual difficulty,
which. think. have relieved Europe of
very dangerous and threatening
storm.
while matters were in suspense, the
government was necessarily forced to
take precautions that it should not be
taken unawares. These precautions
were were most prompt and effective;
but the immediate necessity for them
has passed off.
There has been some surprise on
both sides of the channel at the fact
that these preparations have not sud-
denly ceased, but it is impossible to
stop them at moments notice.
After referring to the various ru-
morris of intended action arising out
of these preparations, including the
seizure of Syria and Crete and the de-
claration of a protectorate over Egypt
(the latter allusion being greeted with
immense cheering), Lord Salisbury con-
tinued:
Il am sorry to say / cannot rise to
the height of the aspirations indicated
by the cheering of the audience. 40
not venture to prophecy, If we are
forced by others into a position we do
not now occupy, what may occur; but
we are well satisfied with the existing
state of things, and we do not THINK
any cause has arisen to necessitate an
effort on our part a present to modify
it. We earnestly hope that ctrcum-
stances will not make necessary mate
rally to modify that position, as we
are convinced the world would not
then get on so peaceably as now.
THE czar has invited a congress to
provide for the disarmament oil the
world but, while we offer our heartiest
tribute to his motives and are Wiling
to assist and sympathize in every way
until the happy day when his asplra-
fions are crowned with success, we
must still provide precautions needtul
to counteract the dangers surrounding
us.
I'm some respects, this era. this
great epoch in the history of man, is
marked by unhappy omens 1t is the
first year in which the mighty force
of the American republic has been in
troduced among nations whose domin-
ions are expanding and whose instru-
ments to certain extent are war.
II am not implying the slightest
blame. Far from it. l am not refusing
sympathy to the American republic in
the difficulties through which 1t has
passed, but no one can deny that It's
appearance among factors, Asiatic, at
all events, and possibly in European
diplomacy. is a grave and serious
event, which may not conduce to the
interests of peace, though | think, in
anv event. it is likely to conduce to the
interests of Great Britain. (Cheers)
but what has been impressed upon
us is that the subject matter of war is
terribly prevalent on all sides. We see
nations decaying, whose government is
40 had that il can neither maintain the
power of elf-defense nor retain the
sffection of it's subjects; and when this
occurs. there are always neighbors inn
PEELED by some motive-it may be the
highest philanthropy, or it may be the
natural desire of empire-to contest as
to who shall be heir to the falling ma
tions and that is the cause of war.
Lord Salisbury then alluded to the
ranidity and unexpeetedness with
which wars break out, and said: If
Great Britain should ever permit her
seIfSdefenses to weaken, her whole EN-
nire would come Gathering to the
ground. 1t is therefore impossible IN
, rn 70 intermit our naval and mill
tary precautions.