The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-02-13
ENaLAND's HOUSE OF COMMONS.
The Trouble With PortugaI-Irish AT.
fairs-The Reply to the Snaach

The Trouble With PortugaI-Trish AZ.
fairs-The Reply to the Speech.
LONDON, Feb. 12.-In the House of Com
mons to-day, Sir James Ferguson, under
secretary for the foreign office, stated that
the papers concerning the Anglo-Portu-
guese dispute relative to the territory in
southeast Africa would soon be presented
to parliament They would serve to largely
dispel the msapprehension which Is causing
hostile feeling now being NANTES ted
against the English by the Portuguese.
The relations between tho British
and Portuguese governments, he said,
are friendly. Portugal had suggested arbi-
tratton OF the questions in dispute but En-
gland was of the opinion that the subjecU
was not one for arbitration. Secretary
Ferguson also stated that the government
had not accepted an invitation from Swift
zerland to England to take part In the pro-
posed labor conference to be held at Berne.
THE REPLY TO THE QUEENS SPEECH.
The address in reply to the queens speech
was moved in the House this afternoon by
Thomas Reardon. Mr.. Gladstone spoke
during the debate on the address. He re-
ferred TO the Anglo-Portuguese dispute, and
said be regretted that conflict had arisen
with Portugal, England's old ally. but that
the present matter was a case for action,
and 1t was better that the action should be
prompt.
Mr.. Gladstone referring to Samoa, con-
graduated the government upon the ar
rangements that have been made between
Germany, Greas Britain, and the United
States. 1t was good example OF what
could be done by temperate resort to pa
cific ways.
He regretted that the address did not
mention the position of Crete and Armenia.
IL the Porte pursued reactlonary policy In
Crete it must end in the severance of the
island from Turkey He trusted that the
government would not suffer the Porte to
gloss over the facts of prosecutions in Crete.
and outrage in Armenia
IRELAND's IMPROVED CONDITION.
Touching Ireland, he denied that the pros
perity and order whica prevail there was
due TO coercion. The state Of affairs exist
ing there arose chiefly from the improved
agricultural condition of the country. He
hoped the local government measure would
be conceived in liberal spirit. If the
proposals Of the bill were mig
gardly, the effect would be to pro-
duce new materials for agitation. He
complained that the queens speech was
silent on subjects Of reform in the county
council, charitable education and the sugar
bounty convention.
w. H. Smith, the conservative leader in
the House, assured Mr.. Gladstone that the
influence OF the government should be ex-
erted to secure j istice for the Cretans and
Armenians. It was certain that Moussa
Bey would be tried again. Theg governments
still desired to introduce bills creating dis
trict counc Is in Great Britain, and would
do so if the business Of the House permitted.
The agreement of the powers on the sugar
convention was not complete, and until ir
was absolute the government could not ask
the House to legislate ON the matter. The
Irish local government bill was drawn on
lines of existing legislation in England and
Scotland with special adaptation TO the vary
ing conditions OF Ireland. [Cries Of ''Hearir
HEART He was quite sure the bill would
not be found too narrow.