POLITICAL NEWS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume X, Issue 1452, 11 September 1885, Page 4

POLITICAL NEWS.

THE BANQUET AT THE MANSION HOUSE. SPEECHES BY ; LOUDS SALISBURY AND WOLSELEY. London, August 31. Lord Salisbury's speech at the Mansion House Banquet on the 18th vouchsafed no information regarding the present state of England. In regard to foreign questions the Premier laid stress on the importance of maintaining the continuity of the country's foreign policy He regretted that the Liberals had reversed Lord Beaeonsfield's policy towards Afghanistan and Egypt, but he could not at once undo the work of the lust live years. He could only seek for all possible advantages for the country. Lord Salisbury declared that the main desire of the country was to have internal peace and repose, and an interval of construction instead of destruction. The Government would devote themselves to the restoration of that cordial feeling among the European Powers which was essential to the prosperity of the world. He hoped that at next year's banquet he would be able to say that Russia and England and their allies were inarching side by side, vieing with each other in maintain^ peace, and treating each other with mutual respect. Lord Wolseley, in returning thanks for the army, greatly praised the conduct of the whole of the Soudan force. The British army, he said, was better than ever. He hoped to see the day when promotion by a system of careful selection would replace promotion by seniority. Lord Charles Beresford, responding; for the navy, said England's naval posi tion was at the present unsafe. A loan of twenty millions would be necessary to fortify the naval coaling stations and supply the necessary increase of gunboats and torpedo boats, while, for the defence of the great shipping ports, an appeal should be made to the British national spirit.