BIRTHDAY SPEECHES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81885, 12 November 1906, Page 2

BIRTHDAY SPEECHES.

AKMV AND NAVY EFFICIENCY. THE FOREIGN POLICY. VEILED WARNING TO BELGIUM JAPAN AND THE ALLIANCE. Received nth, 4.27 p.m. London, November 10. I King- Edwaid spent yesterday at bandiingham. He received birthdav congiatulations from a'l parts of tno tvor d. The Rt. Hon. R. B. Haldane, responding at the Lord Mayor's banquet at the Guildhall yes.erday to the coast of the Imperial Forces, said Lord I wocdmouth and himself were conacinus it was ihcirsolcmn duty not to diminish the efficiency of the army or navy. He wished the nations of the world would abate their rivalry in armament, and he believed it the duty every Christian people to give the lead in this direction, but unless a response was forthcoming, it was impossible in the interest of peace it. self for any nation to let down its strengh. The Marquis of Ripon, in the absence of Sir H. Campbel'-Bannerman. responded on behalf of the Ministry, He paid a tribute to Lord Lansdowne's foreign policy, which faciliiated its continuity by the present party in power. He proceeded to lunt that unless Belgium initiated some measure for the amelioration of •he condition of affairs in the Congo, Britain must, i n concert with other nations, endeavour to apply a remedy, at any rate to protect British rights and interests. Baron Komaru, responding to the toast of the Foreign Diplomatists, said 1 the Japanese nation were attached to their a'lianeo. with Britain, and united in their desire to maintain and strengthen it,.