Lord Rosebery on Wednesday delivered a speech at Epsom to
the Surrey Agricultural Association which was in its importance an event. Speaking as head of the late Govern- ment, he associated himself warmly with Lord Salisbury in his resistance to the French attitude upon the Upper Nile. "I was," he said, "personally and Ministerially responsible for the declaration made by Sir Edward Grey in March, 1895, that for France to interfere there would be an 'unfriendly act '; " and he considered that the neglect by the French of this warning created a situation of extreme gravity. He did not expect any " weakening " in Lord Salisbury, but if any were shown, the reign of the Government would be short, for the nation was united. He meant no disrespect to the flag of France, but it must retire from the Nile ; and he hoped it would be found that it was borne, as the French had originally said, not by an agent of France, but by an "emissary of civilisation." Lord Rosebery added that in the last two or three years there had been a disposition to encroach on English rights, and English conciliation had been misunderstood ; but if "the nations of the world are under the impression that the ancient spirit of Great Britain is dead, or that her resources are weakened, or her population less determined than ever it was to maintain the rights and the honour of its flag, they make a mistake which can only end in a disastrous conflagration." The speech, which is thoroughly creditable to Lord Rosebery, has been received with enthusiasm throughout the country. In truth, except among the few who would give up Egypt, there is no difference of opinion.
