Important Speech by the English Premier.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 116, 12 November 1894, Page 2

Important Speech by the English Premier.

THE EUROPEAN SITUATION. NEW ZEALAND AND SAMOA. (PEE PBE99 ASSOCIATION.) London. November 10 At the birthday banquet at Guildhall, the Premier said the sky was not entirely clear, owing to the war in the East, but the barometer was not falling, and the British Government was prepared to join in any pacific efforts to restore peace. England, ho said, had acted throughout hand in hand with Russia, and the relations between the countries were never more cordial than at present. Lord Rosebery referred in feeling terms to the death of the Czar, and trusted his successor would be equal to the enormous responsibilities attached to the position. He alluded to the alliance with France in the Crimea, and declared that it was his desire always to fight shoulder to shoulder not in war but in peaceful rivalry with Franco. Three dangers of peace were, he thought, enormous armaments, an unreflecting press, and armed explorations. The latter was the real danger, but he thought it would continue until the Powers interested, especially in Africa, recoguhed their various spheres of influence. He rejoiced to see the colonial cxpension of other Powers, because it would conduce to peace, and also be the means of extending commerce. The Premier said the work in connection with the delimitation of Russian and British spheres in Central Asia had terminated. Wellington, This D»y. Lord Rosebery said the rumours that New Zealand desired to administer the affairs of Samoa were too ridiculous for official contradiction, but such statements appearing in the newspapers aroused suspicion, which it was impossible for any diplomatic assurances to remove. The Premier's earnest avowal that he was convinced of the necessity of upholding the external and internal interests of the Empire was warmly applauded .