The record-union., 1898-11-10
Appearance of America as a Factor
in European Politics.
4 Grave and Serious Event Which May Not
Conduce to Interests OF Peace.
It is Likely, However, to Conduce
to the Interests of Great Britain
Remarks of Premier Salisbury
at Banquet Given by the Lord
Mayor of London.

LONDON, Nov 9-The annual ban
quet of the Lord Mayor Of London took
place at the Guild Hail this evening.
There were about $50 guests present
After the usual local toasts the army
and navy were toasted, Admiral Sir
William Kennedy and General Wolse-
ley responding for their respective
forces which were described as being
in a perfect state Of preparedness to
meet any power disputing Great Brit
aims just claims.
The brevity of the speeches showed
that everyone realized the general anx-
iety to hear the Marquis of Salisbury
who, on rising to respond to the toast
of Her Majesty's Minister'S" was
greeted with prolonged applause
The Premier began by saying that a
succession of events abroad had oc-
easioned grave anxiety to the Ministry
for a 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 has accepted an invita-
tion to take part in a conference which
would be called to determine upon the
measures which it is possible to take
in order to blot out anarchy The
Marquis of Salisbury added that at
the same time he was bound to saw
that he had no great hope that legisla-
tion would abate this horrible. mon
strous affiiction 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 con-
cert OF Europe. He said he was
AFRAID that the proceedings of the con-
cert were not always admired. At the
same time he pointed out that patient
application, combined with the moral
strength of Europe, has at least sue
eeeded in fulfilling the promise to the
Cretans Of giving them autonomy IN
der the suzerainty of the Sultan"
Continuing, the Premier remarked. d.
The solution Of this most difficult
problem has witnessed DISPLAYS
of splendid and unexpected Qualities
and diplomacy upon the part of the
Admirals, who have successfully ac-
complished what the Cabinets of En-
rope had been unable to do. I have
sometimes thought that if the Cabi-
nets We're all dismissed and Admirals
were installed in their places, Europe
would get along better"
turning to the crisis with France
the Premier remarked: eve have had
quite recently to consider whether the
question Of an European war was not
very near. But with great interest and
consideration, the result has turned ont
happlIy, through the great Judgment
ana common sense displayed by France
under circumstances Of unusual diff
culty, which, / think, have relieved
Europe OF very dangerous
storm. While matters were in sus-
pense the Government was necessarily
forced to take precautions that II
should not be taken unawares. These
precautions were most prompt and eff
1ectlVe but the immediate necessity
Tor them has passed off. There has
peen. some surprise on both sides of
the channel at the fact that these pre-
parations have not suddenly ceased.
But tits impossible to stop them at a
moments notice"
After referring to the various RI
mors of intended action arising out of
these preparations, including the seiz-
ure OF Syria and Crete, and the decIa-
ration OF protectorate over Egypt
the latter allusion being greeted with
immense cheering-Lord Salisbury con-
tinued:
am sorry to say 1 cannot rise to
the night of the aspirations indicated
by the cheering Of the audiences. I
DO not venture to prophecy, if we are
forced by others into a position we do
not now occupy. what may occur: hut
we are well satisfied with the existing
state of things, and we do not think
any cause has arisen to necessitate eff
Tort on our part at present to modify 1t.
Ihe position causes occasional fric-
ton, but, taking the situation is a.
whole, and considering the feeling of
other people as well as our own we
can reasonably rest for the present for
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 fan Of
eOandurman. but We earnestly hope that
circumstances will not make it neees-
sary to materially modify that posi-
ton as we are convinced the world
would not then get on so peaeeably as
now"
Referring again to the war prepara-
tlons, and asking his hearers to look
at the state of the world, Lord Sails
bury observed: The Car has invited
a congress to provide for the disarma-
ment of the world, but while we offer
our heartiest, tribute to his motives,
and are willing TO assist and sympa-
thize in every way until the happy day
when his aspirations are crowned with
success, we must still provide precau-
tlons needful to counteract the dangers
surrounding U.s. In 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
1oree of the American republic has
peen introduced among nations whose
oolnlnions are expanding and whose in
tiuinents to a certain extent are war.
am not implying the slightest
Diane. Far from it. I am not refusing
sympathy to the American republic in
the olfnculties through which it has
passed. but no one can deny that its
appearance among factors Asiatic at
al events, and possibly in European
olploInacy, Is a grave and serious event
0hlch may not conduce to. the inter-
ests or peace, though 1 think in any
event it is likely to conduce to the in
ferests of Great Britain. (Cheers.
But with this impressed upon US,
the subject matter of war is terribly
prevalent on all sides. We see nations
decaying, whose Government is so bad
that It can neither maintain the power
of self-defense or retain the affection of