THE EASTERN QUESTION.

Hastings Standard, Issue 143, 12 October 1896, Page 3

THE EASTERN QUESTION.

GREAT SPEECH BY LORD ROSEBERY. RECEIYED WITH GREAT ENTHUSIASM. L<«no<>n, Oct. 10. In the course of an interview, Lord Rosebery, in resigning the leadership of the Liberal Party, said the attitude of Mr Gladstone on the Eastern question had determined him in his action. Lord Rosebery addressed a public meeting at Edinburgh last night. There was an immense audience, besides fully 12,000 were unable to gain admittance, aud the speech was received with great enthusiasm. Referring to the Eastern question, his Lordship warmly remarked that in the matter of reform Armenia needed guidance not stimulus, and he passed nnmeasured censure on the Sultan and the ruffiinly Kurds. The remedy, he said, whatever shape it was to take, must cover the entire Eastern question. Many of the suggested remedies were futile, and to his mind dangerous, and he disagreed with all those proposed by Mr Gladstone. The suggested deposition of the Sultan was illusory, and to recall the British Ambassador would be unwise ; that would be a «reat affront, and be a help in the drift of war. It would be useless to threaten the Sultan and then withdraw from the position. He discouraged the transfer of Turkev to Russia, but was willing to surrender Cyprus to anyone except Turkey, if it was likely to secure concerted action in settling the difficulty. He combated the opinion that the Powers were determined to fight if Great Britain acted alone, and at the same time he doubted whether the colonies were enthused with the war spirit. Concerted action was, he said, the only panacea for the Eastern question, and it was impossible to long postpone action. lie said he had received a long and affectionate letter from Mr Gladstone, and in concluding thanked those associated with him in the leadership of the party.