The Portland daily press., 1897-08-07
PARLIAMENT PRoRoGuED.
And the Queens Speech to Both Houses
of Parliament.

London. August 6.-The House of
Commons met today and passed the ord
reading of the appropriation bill, which
was forwarded to the House of Lords,
where it passed all stages. Both Houses
then suspended business until 2.3O p. m.
when the Queens speech prorogulng
Parliament was read 1t was as follows:
MY Lords and Gentlemen-At the close
of the session during which there has
been disturbance ana conflict i'll Europe,
! ann glad to be able to inform you that
the cordiality of my relations With foreign
powers remains unchanged. The united
influence of the six Powers, signatories
of the Treaty of Paris, was earnestly ex-
erted during the year to diSsuade the
King of Greece from a war upon which
he unhappily desired to enter. Though
they failed in this endeavor they were
able to bring about an early suspension
| of hostilties between the two belligerants
and open negotiations for peace.
| These proceedings are protracted and a
formal treaty has not yet been signed. but
there is good ground for believing that
all the most important matters in contro-
versy have been adjusted and that in re-
turn for an adequate indemnity the terri
tory conquered by Turkey, with Il slight
modification of the frontier, will be re
stored to Greece.
~ have given notice to the King of the
Belgians and the German Emperor to
terminate the treaties of 1862 and 1865
whereby l am prevented from making
with my colonies such fiscal arrangements
within my empire as seem to me expedi-
ent. In consequence Of the in!raction by
the Chinese government of certain stipu-
| lations OF the convention OF 1921, fresh
convention has been concluded thereby
establishing the frontier of Burmah and
| China more advantageously to my empire
and open the West river of China to
European commerce.
Il have concluded treaty of commerce
and friendship with King Menelik.
1.-THE presence Of representatives of the
colonies and India at the celebration of
the Goth year of my reign has contributed
| to the strength of the bond of union in
all parts of MY empire and additional
proof of the attachment Of the colonies to
| The mother country has been furnished i'll
| the fiscal legislation of the Canadas, and
| the contribution that Cape Colony, fol-
| lowing the example of Australia has
offered for our naval defense.
1.-The famine which TO my profound
grief, has prevailed in large portions OF
my Indian dominions since the autumn
of last year, has taxed severely the re-
sources of that country. L gladly ac-
knowledge the energy and sacrifice of my
officers of all ranks, both European and
natives, and of the many private persons,
who with untiring zeal and anxious de-
sire to avoid offeDse to native feeling,
have labored to relieve and save life and
suffering An appeal to the sympathy of
my subjects in all parts of my empire was
responded to in a most generous manner
and rejoice to learn that, owing to salts
factory rainfall. there is every prospect
that the area of distress will be very great
ly diminished.
THE plague. which caused a large
number Of deaths, has almost disap-
peared
When she says to the Commons:
~ am grateful to the liberal provisions
| to which you have assented for increasing
the maritime forces of my empire.
sit has given me great pleasure to
sanction the arrangements you have made
for enlarging the Important harbors OF
Dover and Gibraltar, and to strengthen
the military defenses of my empire. I an
ticipate that the facilities you have given
for the practice of military manoeuvres
will conduce to the greater efficiency Of
emy party.
81 rejoice that you have been able tc
provide a more efficient and more
economical system for the judicial insti-
buttons of Ireland. r
81 pray that fruit of your labors may
be answered by the protection and bless
| ing of Almighty God"