THE GUILDHALL BANQUET.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1659, 12 November 1887, Page 2

THE GUILDHALL BANQUET.

London, Not. 9. At the Ministerial banquet at Guildhall to-night, the Marquis of Salisbury, in replying to the toast of Her Majesty’s Ministers, referred to the surrender of Ayoub Khan as having removed a serious danger to the peace of Central Asia. The settlement of the Suez Canal question, and the arrangement concluded for the evacuation of the New Hebrides, were of especial Importance as removing a thorn which had sprung up between England and France. ’, His Lordship knew nothing to cause uneasiness regarding the peace of Europe beyond the numerous armaments at present kept up by several Continental Powers,.; and he expressed the belief that every ruler in the world was anxious to maintain peace, the only danger to which arose from possible outburst of popular passion. The policy of England, he declared, would be to maintain peace, adhere to existing treaties, uphold the present framework of Europe, and secure the autonomy, of free nations. Lord Salisbury believed that the Austrian and Italian Governments were in harmony with England, and that sympathisers with those Powers wore deeply bound in aiming at the same objects. Dealing with the Irish question, his Lordship declared that Her Majesty's Government were more determined than ever to subordinate everything to v tbe enforcement of law and order in Ireland, adding that a marked improvement in the state of the country had set in since the Crimea Act bad bson in'operation, though up to the present time only slow progress bad b;en made. :