The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-02-12
QUEEN NOT FoR WIR,

Nhe SyInpatn'&SS Nllh AheIlchs EHoft
 fav Venezuelan ArbItratlon'-op Opening of
 Parliament-H Her Maiesty's References to
 the Armenian and ransvaal situations.
 London, Feb. 1.-The regular session of parliament was opened to-day. The speaker, the Right Hon. William Court Gully, presided over the house of com mons.
 The royal commission entered the house oflords at ? o'clock and the house of commons was summoned. The mem- bers of the house of commons, headed by the 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, after which the members of the house of commons returned to their cham Der.
 The following is the text of the speech: My Lords and Gentlemen.
 T continue to receive from other pow CTS assurances of friendly sentiments.
 An agreement has 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 delimita- ton of the frontier which separates my Indian empire and Afghanistan from Russia have agreed upon line, which has been accepted by myself and the emperor of Russia.
 '"The government of the United States of America have expressed a wish to cooperate in the termination of the differences which have existed for many years between my government and the republic of Venezuela upon the question of the boundary between that country and the colony of British Gui- ana. I have expressed my sympathy With the desire to come to an equitable arrangement, and trust that further ne- gotiations will lead to a satisfactory settlement. .,
 ''The sultan of Turkey has sanctioned the principal reforms in the govern ment of the Armenian provinces for which, jointly with the emperor of Rus sia and the president of the French re- public. I have felt 1t to be my duty to press. deeply regret the fanatical out break on the part of a section of the Turkish population which has resulted in a series of massacres which have caused the deepest indignation in this country
 "A sudden incursion into the South African republic by an armed force lo., tJ,n the British South African company re- suited in deplorable collision with the Burgher forces. My ministers, at the earliest possible moment, intervened to prohibit, through the governor, this hostile action, and to warn all my sub jeets in South Africa against taking part in it.
 ''The origin and circumstances of these proceedings will be made the sub- ject of searching inquiry.
 'The president of the South African republican, acting in this matter with moderation and wisdom, has agreed to place the prisoners in the hands of my governor, and I have undertaken to bring to trial the leaders of the expedi- tion. The conduct of the president of the South African republic upon this oc- casion and the assurance which he has voluntarily given lead me to believe that he recognizes the importance of redressing the legitimate grievances of which complaint has been made by a majority of the persons inhabiting the TTansvaal. ,
 ''The condition of affairs in Ashanti and the violation by the king, q Ku- masi. of the provisions of the treaty Of 1874, as regarded the suppression of the practice of offering human sacrifices, the freedom of trade and the mainte- nance of communications have for some years engaged the serious attention of my government. All endeavors to in- duce the king to observe his enga ge- ments proved fruitless and it became necessary to send an armed expedition to Kumasi to enforce the conditions of the treaty. While I rejoice to announce that the objects of the expedition have been achieved without bloodshed. I have to deplore the loss from the severi- ties of the climate of some valuable lives, including that Of my beloved son. in-law, Prince Henry of Battenberg. who volunteered his services. and my dear daughter are greatly touched and comforted by the widespread sympathy which has been shown by my subjects throughout the empire, at home and abroad.
 I trust that the establishment of efficient British control at Kunlasi will put stop to the barbarous customs which have hitherto prevailed and have the effect of preventing inter-tribal con- flicts; and also tend to benefit the peo- pie and the interests of peace and com merce.
 "On the northwestern frontier of h. dia the measures which were taken in 1895 to secure effective control of Chitral have been successful.
 Gentlemen of the House of Commons:
 T have directed the estimates for ser- vice for the year to be laid before you They have been prepared with the. ut most regard to economy. but the exit gencies of the times requires an increas- ed expenditure.
 My Lords and Gentlemen:
 'The extension and improvement of the naval defences of the empire is the most important subject to which your efforts can be directed and will doubt less occupy your most earnest atten- ton.
 T regret to say that the condition of agriculture is disastrous beyond re- cent experience. Measures will be laid before you with the object of mitigat- T q