The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-11-10
LORD SALISBURY
ON THE SITUATION
Crisis With France is
Happily Averted.
EGYPTIAN QUESTION.
England is Satisfied With the Exist
ing State Of Things.
THE CARS PEACE CONGRESS.
While in Sympathy with the Motive,
Precautions are Necdful to Coun-
teract Surrounding Dangers.
America Now an 1mportent
Force Among the Nations
OF the World.

LONDON, Nov. 9-The annual banquet
of the Lord Mayor of London took place
at the Guildhall this evening. There were
about $50 guests present, including mem
bers OF the diplomatic corps, Cabinet
Ministers and other distinguished people
and their wives.
After the formal reception in the libra
~ there was the usual procession to the
Great Han, which served as the banquet
ing place.
After the usual loyal toasts. the navy
and army were toasted, Admiral Sir VIM.
Kennedy and General Lord Wolsely re-
spending for their respective forces. which
were described as being in a perfect state
Of preparedness to meet any power dis
putting Great Britain's just claims.
WANTED TO HEAR SALISBURY.
The brevity OF the speeches showed that
every one realized there was general anX-
iety to hear the Marquis of Salisbury,
who on rising to respond to the toast OF
"Her Majestys Minister'S was greeted
with ponderous cheers.
The Premier began by saying that a
succession Of events abroad had occasion
| ed grave anxiety to the Ministry for a
year past Turning to the crisis with
France. the Premier remarked:
1--WE have had quite recently to con-
| slider whether the question of European
war was not very near, but with great
interest and consideration the result mas
burned out happily, through the great
judgment and common sense displayed by
France under circumstances of unusual
difficulty. which, think. have relieved US
Of dangerous and threatening storm
NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS.
"While matters were in suspense the
government was necessarily forced 10
take precautions that it should not be
taken unawares. These precautions were
most prompt and effective, but the imme-
diate necessity for them has passed OFF.
There has ben some surprise on both
! sides of the channel at the fact that these
| preparations have not suddenly ceased
| But IT is impossible to stop them at
moments notice"
After referring 20 the various rumors
Of intended action arising out OF these
preparations. including the seizure OF
| Syria and Crete. and the declaration OF
| a lfDLeclOfdlt over ISl pA-tlt idAANi IL
lusiOn being greeted with immense cheer
| ing-Lord Salisbury continued:
THE EGYPTIAN QUESTION.
u am sorry TO say / cannot rise to
the height of the aspirations indicated
by the cheering OF the audience. l do not
venture to prophesy, 81 We are forced
by others, into a 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 10 necessitate effort on our
part at present to modify 1t.
"The 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 reason
ably rest for the present with the exist
In. state OF affairs. | must not be un-
derstOOd as meaning that Great Britains
position in Egypt is the same now as II
was before the fall of 0mdurman, but
we earnestly hope that circumstances
will not make it necessary materially 10
modify that position as we are convinced
the world would not then go on SO
peaceably as now"
THE MAN BEAR
Referring again to the war prepara-
tions and asking his hearers to look 70
the state of the world, Lord Salisbury
observed:
"The Car has invited a congress 70
provide for the disarmament Of the world;
but while we offer our heartiest tribute
to his motives we are willing to assist and
sympathize in every way until the happy
day when his aspirations are crowned
with success we must still provide pre-
cautions needful 10 counteract the dan
gers surrounding US.
I'm some respects this era, this great
epoch in the history OF man Is marked by
unhappy omens IL is the first year In
which the mighty force of the American
republic has been introduced among ma
tions whose dOminions are expanding and
whose instruments to a certain extent are
war.
A SERIOUS EVENT.
"I am not implying the slightest blame
far from it, | All not refusing sympa-
thy 10 the American republic in the difii-
culties through which II has passed: but
no one can deny that its 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 i'm any event 1t is likely TO con-
duce TO the interests OF Great Britain.
(Cheers.)
is that the subject matter of war is ter
ribly prevalent OH all sides We see ma
tions decaying, whose government Is so
bad that IL can neither maintain the
power OF self-defence nor retain the af-
fectiOn OF its subjects: and, when this
occurs, there are always neighOors I'M
peled by some mOtive--it may be the
highest philanthropy, or IL may be the
natural desire OF empire-to contest as TO
which shall belong 10 the fallen nation.
Lord Salisbury then alluded TO the rapid
ity and unexpectedness with which wars
break out and said
GREAT BRITAIN'S BULWARK.
IF Great Britain should ever permit
her sea defences to weaken, her whole
empire would come Gathering 10 the
ground-it Is, therefore. impossible In the
present state and temper of the world
to intermit our naval and military pre-
cautions"
He concluded by repudiating "all sug-
gestion that Our preparations mean that
the country is animated by the lust OF