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Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 8280, 23 October 1905, Page 5

HOME POLITICS.

Britain's Foreign Policy.

London, Saturday.

Sir Edward Grey, in course of a speech in the City, said that the growing friendship between Britain and America, the Alliance with Japan, and the French agreement were three cardinal features of the British foreign policy which the Liberals did not wish to see changed. They must remember that they could not make new friendships by backing out of old ones. He anticipated improved relations with Russia, and advocated a better understanding with Germany, without impairing our relations with France. He urged a continuous policy. The war might not have been ended now unless the alliance had been renewed. Failure to renew it would have been an example of fickleness and folly exposing us to universal distrust. The alliance was essentially defensive and pacific. The next House of Commons would not be one which would support any Government which weakened in regard to the

alliance.

He added that the Colonial Conference ought to be free and unfettered ; also, on all sides representative and candid. The present Government were not in a position to be representative, and he doubted their having the courage to be candid.