MAIL ITEMS.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XVI, Issue 5184, 3 June 1885, Page 3

MAIL ITEMS.

MR GLADSTONE'S DEFENCE OF ( ; THE ANGLO-RUSSIAN POLICY. j\ In moving the vote of credit, Mr Glad- ; stone said that the Government considered it necessary to have the entire resources of ' the Empire well in hand, for use and ' application whenever they may bo re- ! quired. Events sinoe the fall of Khartoum \ have shown that the El Mahdi's power has collapsed; 'England's ppssessiotfof Kliar-: ; ' toum would hot put a stop to'the slave trade, and therefore it would be useless to shed blood and treasure in the Soudan. In regard to the alleged sraallness of the I vote of credit, he reminded the House it was tho largest that had boon askod since ( the Crimean War, and it is also , coincident with large increases in the i annual army: and navy votes.' Further- ' more, he said, the case relates primarily to India. In order to fully appreciate the ■ amount entailed, I 'it'is requisite ; to know tho extent of the measures being taken in India.' The case is not one of war actual, or, perhapß, proximate. He did riot feel called upon to define thedeg'ree of danger, but he would say, in regard to the sad contingency of an outbreak of war. or rupture of relations with Russia, that Her Majesty's Government had striven to'conduct the controversy in such a way that if it i is, unhappily, ended in a violent rupture they -might at least be able to challenge the verdict of civilized mankind whether or not they had done all that man could do, and had used every just and honourable effort to prevent. the plunging of the • two countries into 'bloodshed'' and'despair. The question before the Committee, he said, wa-i simple and even narrow, although an important one. Negotiations continue, but to. give : Parliament partial . only' would ; mislead them. The Government submitted its case upon ' facts ( with whioh the whole world is acquainted. There exists abundant cause for thewar preparations whioh are being carried'on. The starting point was the obligation to tho Ameer,' which should be fulfilled in no stinted manner. The covenant with Kussia, of March 16, was one which England hoped and believed would be recognised as one of the most sacred ever. made between two 'great nations, and if any deviation occurred, there should bo a jealous rivalry between the two nations to sift to the bottom ;all that;remained in suspense. A bloody engagement occurred on March 30th, showing that one or both failed to fulfil the covenant. England considers it the-duty of both countries to ascertain how tho calamity occurred. Ho would not anticipate tho British woro right. He felt perfect confidence in British oeffiers, but ho would not assumo that they might not have been misled. Ho oould not sty the Government possossod all tho facts in tho caso. They possessed facts which created an improssioh avorso to those formed by tho "other party to the covenant, but they would not deviate from tho strictest principles of justice by antWpating any of tho ultimate issues d the fair inquiry thoy aro.dosirouß of prosecuting. Thero is bause for war preparations. Ho Imped, tho Houso would , not delay its assont; which would only , tend to propagalo the idea here and clse- , whorothat thero was some indecision in • tho mind of Parliament, whereas he boi iovod that ono heart and ono purpose

nniiinno:! Ihom. At tho conclusion of his speech, the delivery of which occupied one hour, the House broke out into loud and prolonged cheoring, Mr Gladstone was linatencd to with deep attention 1 and silence, and his words created a profound sensation.