EUROPEAN SITUATION.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 289, 17 May 1898, Page 2

EUROPEAN SITUATION.

STARTLING SPEECHES. ANGLO - AMERICAN ALLIANCE ADVOCATED. WAR SAID TO BE IMMINENT. (BY ELECTRIC TELEORAI'II. —COYPRIGHT). London, May 14. Lord Salisbury, speaking at a scuiiprivate dinner given by the City Bankers, referred to the gravity of the foreign outlook, and said it was necessary that England should look facts in the face. It is surmised that Lord Salisbury refers to the French claims on tho Niger and Yunan. Mr Chamberlain, in a speech at Birmingham, said Great Britain by following the policy of Btrict isolation, was liable to be confronted at any moment by a combination of Great Powers, all parts of tho Empire wore already drawn together and through it wbs infused the spirit of Imperial patriotism, and a sense of common interest in trade defence. That war was near he strongly felt, and their next duty was to maintain the bonds of permanent unity with their Transatlantic kinsmen, whose interests were identical with ours, and a more definite arrangement with »vhom would be better tor both and the world. War would be cheaply purchased if it resulted in the Stars and Stripes and the Union Jack waving together over an Anglo-Saxon Alliance. Momentous issues were before us, and the time might come before long when the Government must appeal to the patriotisr-i of the people. This speech of Mr Chamberlain and the speech of Lord Salisbury made a groat sensation. A FRENCH OPINION. MR CHAMBERLAIN'S COLDBLOODED VIOLENCE. THE PROBABLE RESULT. (Received May 16, 10.50 p.m.) Paris, May 15. The Republique Francaise says that Mr Chamberlain's cold-blooded violence in his speech at Birmingham is certain to cause the British Government much embarassment.