LORD SALISBURY'S POLICY.

Wanganui Chronicle, 4 December 1901, Page 2

LORD SALISBURY'S POLICY.

Lord Salisbury's speech at the Lord Mayor's banquet' oil November 9th, was accepted as summing of his South African policy. The response to it by the great audience in the banquet hall is reported to .have been entirely loyal, but scarcely enthusiastic. Referring to the war. Lord Salisbury said, "It is pleasant to record that the peace of the. world has been so little disturbed during the last two years. Half a century ago we would not have found such a correct and pacific attitude on the part of the Powers. It is a.suggestive sign of international amity and underStanding that the cloud of the last three weeks over the Mediterranean has so lightly passed - away." Touching upon South African developments again, the speaker said, "I strongly deprecate the spirit of pessimism so frequently heard in the utterances of our public men as to the war in which we are engaged. Unlike the wars of former years, no longer does the capture of the enemy's capital and dissipation of his field force constitute a conclusive victory. We are now confronted by a system of guerilla warfare which must be slowly and effectively wiped out. We are progressing slowly bub steadily. I cannot take the public wholly into the confidence of the Government. It would be most im* prudent to state publicly all we are doing week'y and monthly at. the front, but what I emphatically declare is that whatever delays are encountered these are due neither to lack of earnestness and ability on the part of our Generals in the field, nor tot neglect to comply with all their demands on the part of the Home Government." Concluding, the .speaker said the menace to the .stability of the South African section of the Empire was being effectively and forever removed. . ... "