Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-10
BRITAIN'S POSITION.
LORD SALISBURY on THE HhoHN'
WAR PREPARATIONS.
UNCLE SAM IN THE EAST.
M. Appearance as n Factor i"e'e
.a Grave and serious Event ""''"
May Not Conduce
War In the Air.


LONDON. November 9-The an'u"'
BANQUET OF the Lord Mayor OF Lonu9n
took place at the Guild Han TINS eve
ming There we're about $50 guests pres
en,. including members Of the dipio"auo
corns Cabinet ministers, and otner o's-
,,neuished people, and their wives.
AFTER a formal reception in the library
there was the usual procession 10 '"'
Guild Hall, which served as the pan
quoting place.
After the usual loyal toasts the navy
and army were toasted, Admiral DIT WI
liam Kennedy and General Lord Woiseiey
RESPONDING for their respective forces
which were described as being in a per-
feet state Of preparedness TO meet any
Power disputing Great Britains JUST
claims. The brevity of the speeches.
showed that every one realized there was
general anxiety 20 hear the MARQUIS %
salisbury. who on rising TO RESPOND 10
the toast of Her Majesty's Minister'S
was greeted with great cheering
The Premier began by saying 'hat
succession OF events abroad hao o0Sa-
stoned grave anxiety TO the MinlsrS ioi
a year past Turning 10 the Crisis WI"
France. the Premier remarked;
EUROPEAN WAR AVERrED
I'VE have had quite recently to consider
whether the question Of European war
was not very near but the result mas
turned out happily. through the great
fudgment and common sense displayed py
France under circumstances of unusual
difficulty. which. l think, have reviewed
Us OF a dangerous and threatening storm
while matters were in suspense the
government was necessarily forced 10
take precautions that IL should not De
taken unawares These precautions were
most prompt and effective, but the I'M
mediate necessity for them has passed on
There has been some surprise on both
sides az the Channel at the fact that
tbcse urepardtions have not suddenly
ceased. but il is impossible TO stop them
II moments notice
PROTECTORATE OVER EGYPT.
After referring to the various rumors
. of intended action arising out OF these
preparations. including the seizure Oh
Syria and crete. and the declaration OF
a protectorate over Egypt, the latter al
fusion being greeted with immense cheer-
ing. Lord Salisbury continued;
Il am sorry TO say / cannot rise to the
height of the aspirations indicated by the
cheering OF the audience. l do not ven
ture TO prophecy If we are forced by
Others into a position we do not now oc-
cupy. 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 effort on our part at pres
ent TO modify 1t.
STU ALTON SATISFACTORY.
"1'be position causes occasional fric-
ton. but taking the situation as whole
and considering the feelings OF other
people. as well as our own, we can rea-
sonably rest for the present with the
existing state of affairs / must not De
understood as meaning that Great Brl-
tain's position in Egypt is the same now
that il was before the fall Of Omdurmah'
but We earnestly hope that circums 'ahces
viii not make il necessary materially 10
modify that position. as we are con-
WINGED that the world would not theh
20 on so peaceably as now
Referring again 20 the war prepara-
lions and asking his hearers to look 10
The state of the world Lord Salisbury
observed:
CARS PEACE PROPOSITION.
"The car has invited a congress 10
provide for the disarmament OF the word
but while we offer our hearuest tilDule
lo his motives. and are willing to assist
and sympathize in every way untll the
happy day when his ASPIRATIONS are
crowned with success we must still pro-
vide precautions needfu to counteract the
dangers surrounding US. In some re-
spects this era, this great epoch IN inc
history Of man, is marked by unhappy
omens. 1t is the first year In Whlch
The mighty force Of the American republic
has been introduced among nations whose
dominions are expanding, and whose IN
struments TO a certain extent are war
II am not implying the slightest blame.
Far from IT, l am not refusing sympathy
10 the American republic In the dliilcul-
ties through which IL has passed. ~ut
no one can deny that its appearance
among factors Asiatic. at all events ana
nossibly i'm European diplomacy, is grave
md serious event. which may not con-
duce 10 the interests of peace. though 1
think i'm any event il is likely 10 conuuCe
TO the interests Of Great BRITAIN
(Cheers)
WAR IN THE AIR.
"Rut what has been impressed upon us
Is that the subject matter OF war is ter
ribly prevalent on all sides. we see ma
tions decaying, whose government IL ~
bad that 1t can neither MAINTAIN tiie
mower of self-defence nor retain the al
rectiop of lis subjects; and when this
occurs. there are always neighbors I'M
nelled by some motive-it may be the
highest philanthropy. or II may be the
natural desire Of empire-to contest as
10 which shall belong the fallen nation
Lord Salisbury then alluded TO the Ia-
pidity and unexpectedncss with which
wars break out. and said:
BRITISH NECESSITY.
"If Great Britain should ever permit
her sea defences to weaken. her whole
empire would come Gathering to the
ground 1t U.s. therefore impossible, in the
present state and temper OF the world
lo intermit our naval and military pre-
cautions"
lie concluded by repudiatng 'all sug-
cestion that our preparations mean that
the country is animated by the lust OF
conquest or love of war declaring
mat Great Britain was only resolved "a
maintain the empire Brtons have re-
ceiyed from their forefathers, and TO sup
mort the peace which is the glory anc
sustenance Of our empire
A great ovation from the entire assem-
bly marked the conclusion of the Pre-
mier's speech.