At the Guildhall banquet on Wednesday Mr. Asquith made no
political disclosure, and indeed scarcely referred to home politics, except in an allusion to the rioting in Wales and to the improvement of the Trade Returns. He explained the Government's position with regard to the policing of the Persian trade-routes, and declared that if the obstacle in the way of the Persian Government re-establishing order was lack of funds, they would gladly facilitate the raising of money by any reasonable methods. "Our desire is to avoid any- thing which would weaken the Persian Government; and the steps which we have hitherto taken ourselves, or have urged upon them, have been in the direction of strengthening and upholding their authority." Mr. Asquith also discussed the question of armaments. which he described as "the most tragic paradox of our time." It was impossible for any single country to reduce its expenditure, and the only hope lay in the growth of good feeling in all parts of the world.
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