The record-union., 1895-02-06
Queen Victoria's Speech at the
Opening of Parliament.
RELATIONS WITH FOREIGN POWERS
REMAIN FRIENDLY.
An Agreement Concluded With France
for the settlement Of Frontier Dis
putes-Hopes to Bring About Peace
Between China and Japan - Bills
Which the Government VIII SUBJ
mit to Parliament.
Special to the RECoRD-UNIoN.

LONDON, Feb. 5.-The fourth session of
the Thirteenth Parliament opened at
o'clock this afternoon. The Queens
speech was as follows:
"My Lords and Gentlemen: My rela-
tions with foreign powers remain
friendly and on a satisfactory footing.
An agreement has been concluded, after
protracted negotiations between my
Government and that of the French Re-
public, for the settlement of the frontier
between my colony, Sierra Leone, and
the neighboring French possessions.
ST regret to say that war between China
and Japan still continues. l have main
tanned close and cordial understanding
with the powers Interested in these
regions and l shall lose no favorable op-
portunity of promoting peace and ter
mination of the contest.
SIN consequence of the reports which
reached my Government Of the eXce sses
committed by the Turkish troops, regular
or irregular, on the Armenians in the
district of Asia Minor, thought it right,
in conjunction with other powers, to
make representations to the Porte. The
Sultan has declared his intention of Sc
verely Furnishing any of his officers or
soldiers who have been guilty of such
acts and has sent commission to con-
duct AN investigation on the spot. Dele
gates from the powers which have Con-
suls at Erzeroum will accompany this
commission.
AZ am happy to observe the striking
fact that in Ireland otfenses of all kinds
against the law have sunk during the
past year to the lowest level ever marked
in the official records.
Proposals will be submitted you for
remedying the defects which experience
has brought to light in the working of
the law of landlord and tenant in Ireland,
and for dealing with certain evicted ten
ants whose situation still constitutes a
peril to social order.
"a bill will be presented to you dealing
with the church establishment of Wales.
Bills will also be submitted for the popu-
lar control of the liquor traffic and the
abolition Of plural voting and a provision
for the payment of the charges OF return
ing officers at elections. There will be
bills for the uuification OF London and
for facilitating the construction OF light
railways, which trust will be in every
district, in view of the agricultural de-
preston, and bill for the promotion and
conciliation in trade disputes and an
amendment to the factory accounts; also
a bill for the completion of the system of
country government for Scotland and for
the further legislation for crofters will be
submitted to you"
In the House of Lords formal business
was resumed at the same hour as in the
the House of Commons. The Prince of
Wales and Duke of York were seated on
the cross benches. The attendance was
large and the galleries crowded by peer
esses and their friends.
Formal business was resumed in the
House at o'clock, with the swearing in
of new members, etc. The party leaders
were cheered on taking their seats. The
various Ministers gave notice that they
would introduce on Thursday next dit
ferent bills mentioned in the Queens
Snaach