THE GUILDHALL SPEECH.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1290, 19 November 1896, Page 36

THE GUILDHALL SPEECH.

London, November 10. Among those present at the Lord Mayor’s banquet were Mr Bayard, American Ambassador in London, who, as well as Sir Herbert Kitchener, Sirdar of the Egytian Army, received a great welcome. Lord Salisbury cong-ratulated the United States on the result of ttie Presidential election, which he characterised as a, great victory for the principles underlying the constitution of society.

Referring to the Venezuela dispute, he said the difficulty of defining the settled districts "was the chief obstacle of the arbitration until America suggested that the same lapse of time that protected titles civilly should prevent the colony’s title from being questioned when the time was not favourable, although the equities of the case should be recognised. He was gratified that the difference had been closed, thus enabling Great Britain and America to take action for defence against the social dangers menacing society.

The Times declares that, under the arrangement made, 50 years' occupation is regarded as a bar to arbitration, and all the remaining claims are to be submitted to an English and American tribunal. Paris newspapers, commenting on the Lord Mayor’s procession in London, complain that emblems of the battles of Trafalgar and Waterloo were carried in the procession, and this they contend was an unfriendly action.