The Irish standard., 1896-02-15
THE QUEENS SPEECH
What Her Haiesty Has to Say Regard.
= ing the Country.

London, Feb. 1.-THE regular session of
parliament was opened today. The speak
er, the Right Hon. VIM. Court Gully,
presided over the House OF Commons. At
2 o'clock the Royal commission entered the
House Of Lords an at that hour the House
of Commons was summoned.
The members of the HI ae of Commons
headed o. See Speaker, at once proceeded
to the House of Lords and after they had
assembled at the bar of the House the
speech from the throne was read by the
Lord High Chancellor. Lord Halsbury, af-
ter which the members of the House Of
| Commons returned to their chambers.
The text Of the Queens speech which
was read at the opening OF parliament to-
day is as follows:
Ny Lords and Gentlemen:
II continue to reraive from ether powers
assurances Of friendly sentiments.
AN agreement EaS been concluded be-
tween my government and France. the
principal object Of which is to secure the
establishment Of the independence Of
Siam.
The Commissioners for the delimitation
of the frontier which separates my Indian
empire and Afghanistan from Russia have
agreed upon line which has been ac-
cepted by myself and the emporer Of Rus
Sia -
The government Of the United States Of
America have expressed q wish to cooper
ate In the termination of the differences
which have existed for many years be-
tween my government AMI the republic Of
Venezuela upon the question of the bound
ary between that country and the colony
Of British Guiana. I have expressed my
sympathy with the desire to come to an
equNable arrangement and trust that fur
ther negotiations will lead to a satisfactory
result
The Sultan of Turkey has sanctioned the
principal reforms in the government Of the
Armenian provinces for which Jointly
with the emporer Of Russia and the Iresi-
dent Of the French republic I have felt
1t to be my duty to press.
"A sudden incursion into the South Af-
rican republic by an armed force from the
territory under the control Of British
South Africa Company resulted in de-
plorable collision with the Burgl1er forces
My ministers at the earliest possible mo-
ment interviewed to prohibit through the
governor this hostile action and to warn
all my subjects in South Africa against
taking any part in it The origin and
circumstances Of these proceedings will be
made the subject Of searching inquiry
Reference Is made to the condition Of af--
fairs in Ashantee and the success which
the efforts of the armed force sent into
that country attained. The loss of many
lives through the seventies Of the climate
is deplored and special mention is made
Of the death OF Prince Henry of Battten-
berg. Continuing the speech reads:
"On the northwestern frontier Of India
the. measures which were taken in 1895 to
secure effective control of Chftral have
been as successful.
Gentlemen of the. House of Commons:
have directed the estimates for the serv-
ice for the year to be laid before you. They
have been prepared with the utmost re-
gard to economy, but the exigencies of the
times require an increased expenditure.
t'My Lords and Gentlemen: The exten-
sion and Improvement of the naval de-
fenses OF the empire is the most important
subject to which your efforts can be di-
rected and will doubtless occupy. your
earnest attention. 81 8
81 regret to say that the condition of
agriculture is disastrous beyond recent ex-
perience. Measures will be laid before
you with the object Of mitigating the dis
tress Of the classes engaged In that in
dustry. sss n B. ~: sss
Measures will also be submitted to YOU
for the creation OF voluntary schools Tor.
the regulation of alien pauper imilligra~
tion and for the construction Of light rail-
ways OF the rural districts You VIII
also be asked to- Consider the employers,
limited liability bill, and rfsfl land hill
and u measure Tor the Hon III sil
&.