Gilpin observer., 1900-11-15
BRITISH PREMIER'S SPEECH
AT LORD, MAYORS BANQUET

say, had forced war upon Great Brit
ain. He maintained that the British
war office deserved great credit fol
the way in which it had handled these
emergencies.
Despite nebulous and factious at
tacks, we should be glad to improve
all the defects of the war office" he
continued, "and our utmost efforts will
be devoted to that task, but l should
rather deprecate any unnecessary eN'
animation into what has occurred. You
will not add to the enthusiasm of youI
troops by doing so.''
He dilated upon the strengthened
ties between the mother country and
colonies during the present year, and
poked fun at the delay consequent up.
on the European concert when deal.
ing with China. 1t was not appropri-
ate for him, he declared, to comment
upon negotiations while in progress,
but he said he would make an excep.
ton in the AngloGerman compact.
"This," he remarked, represents the
feelings of most if not all the powers
allied. 1t is impossible to lay too
much emphasis upon the integrity OF
China and the open door and think
it a matter of great advantage that the
powers should have expressed them.
selves in favor of these vital princi-
pies, for if they are achieved, the issue
of the China problem need not con
Germ us very anNiously."
He maintained earnestly that the
idea of invading China with "our
scanty force or of approaching the
stupenduOus task of governing China
instead of leaving it to be governed by
the Chinese" was most dangerous.
Relapsing into nassimism Lord Sal.
isbury admitted that the trend of re.
cent events has almost put an end to
the hopes of the Russian Emperor and
others who took part in the peace con.
ference at The Hague. His eXtraordi-
nary speech closed with Il feryid ap.
peal to the people of England to main.
tain their defenses in such Il perfect
condition that I'VE shall not be eX-
posed to any sudden interruption of
the peace upon which our prosperity
depends
"The supreme condition. exclaimed
the premier, "is that no reform no i'm
provement is of the the slightest value
unless security against external inter
ference is obtained by putting our de-
fenSeS in such n position that no acci-
dent may happen beyond our borders
that shall make our security doubt
full
The mtajoority of Lord Salisbury S
hearers believed that this warning.
which was delivered in his most i'm
pressive manner, referred to the pOssi-
bility of French antagonism.
Mr.. Choate's speech consisted chiefly
of a humorous sketch of the history
of Downing street, which, he said, was
named after Il Massachusetts boy. In
concluding his address he expressed
his belief that 80 long as Lord Sails
bury and Mckinley continue to hold
the reins of government, there will be
no danger of any disturbance of the
honorable and friendly relations now
existing between the United States
and Great Britain
George j. Goschen, the retiring first
secretary of the admiralty, who used
the occasion for dramatic farewell to
public life, bespoke the support and
confidence of the British people for his
successor, the Earl of Selborne.
Other speakers were Lord George
Hamilton, secretary of state for India;
Baron Halsbury, lord high chancel-
lor; Lord Alverstone. lord chief justice;
Charles Thompson Ritchie, the newly
appointed home secretary, and Sir Rob
ert Bannatyne Finlay, attorney gen
eral.