The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-11-10
BRITISH PREMIER'S SPEECH
IMPORTANT WORDS ON THREATEN-
 ING EUROPEAN QUESTIONS.


 rope ofa Very Dangerous and Threat- entng storm-Prompt and Effective Precautions Taken but Immediate ton of Protsctorate Over Egypt VIII Not Venture to Prophecy as to Future-United States a New and Dis turbing Factor In European Politics, but Not to Detriment of Great Britain Necessity of Being Prepared for all Eventualities.
 London, Nov. 9.-The annual banquet of the lord mayor of London took place at the Guild hall this evening. There were about $50 guests present includ- ing members of the diplomatic corps, cabinet ministers and other distin- guished people and their wives. After the formal reception in the library there was the usual procession to the SIcdL udIt WHICH served dS lUG UdllQuSl- ing place. After the usual loyal toasts, the navy and army were toasted, Ad miral Sir William Kennedy and Gen eral Lord Wolsley responding for their respective forces, which were described as being in a perfect state of prepared ness to meet any power that should dis mi inc loi nf ifoiT
 The brevity of the speeches showed the general anxiety to hear the Mar quis of f~Salisbury, who, on rising to re- spond to the toast of Her Majesty" was greeted with prolonged cheers. The premier opened his remarks by saying that succession of events abroad had occasioned grave anxiety to the min istry for year past He alluded to the murder of the empress of Austria, for the double purpose of expressing the universal regret on account of crime and for announcing that Great Britain had accepted an invitation to a conference with the powers to blot out anarchy. After referring in a lau- datory manner to the British cam paigns in India and in the Soudan, the premier turned to the Cretan question and the condition of Europe. He said that he was afraid the proceedings of the Cretans were not always admired. At the same time, he pointed out that combined the moral strength of Europe would give the Cretans the autonomy promised them.
 Turning to the crisis with France the premier remarked: 'fWe have had quite recently to consider whether the question of a European war was not very necessary. But with great inter- est and consideration the result has turned out happily through the great Judgment and common sense displayed by France under circumstances of uE- usual difficulty which, I think, have re- 1ieved Europe of a very dangerous and threatening storm. While matters were in suspense, the government was neces- sarily forced to take precautions that it should not be taken unawares. These precautions were most prompt and eff fective; but the immediate necessity for them has passed. There has been some surprise on both sides of the channel at the fact that these prepara- tions have not suddenly ceased but, it is impossible to stop them at a mo- ment's 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: q am sorry to say I cannot rise to the height of the aspirations indicated by the cheering of the audience. I do 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 any &C., tion on our part, at present, to modify it.
 "The position causes occasional fric- 4ion; but, taking the situation as a whole, and considering the feelings of other people as well as our own, we can reasonably rest for the present with the existing state of affairs. l 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 nope that W III AOt Hid he it necessary to modify that position as we are convinced the world would not then get on so peaceably as now"
 Referring again to the war prepara- tions and asking his hearers to look at the state of the world, Lord Salisbury observed: "The czar 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 Drecau- lions needful to counteract the dangers surrounding us. In some respects this era. this great epoch in the history of man is marked by unhappy omens. It is the first year in which the mighty force of the American republic has been introduced among nations whose do- minions are expanding and whose in- str,1ments to a certain extent are war.
 ..I am not implying the slightest bIame. Far from 1t. l am not refus- ing sympathy to the American republic In the difficulties through which it has passed. but no one can deny that it's eppearance among factors Asiatic, at