Lord Salisbury, in his speech at the Mansion House on
Wednesday, took a fairly hopeful view of the European situa- tion. He thought the rebellion in Crete dangerous, but he repu- diated altogether any wish or disposition on the part of Great Britain to obtain for herself another island desirous of Home- rule, and that, too, in the Mediterranean ; and he thought that the necessarily immense scale of any general conflict, if it did break out, would have the effect of preventing any such general conflict from breaking out. With regard both to Egypt and the East of Europe, Lord Salisbury indicated that England must stick to her engagements, and could not possibly cast the past behind her and enter on a brand-new policy. In other words, England will not desert Egypt while Egypt is in danger, and will not bargain with Russia for the division of "the sick man's" property.
