The record-union., 1897-12-01
The Navy Occupied the Principal Place in
His Speech.
Earnestly Urges. That 1t be Ma
terialIy Incrcased-Germa at
Present Has Not Sufficient Ships
to Maintain Her Prestige-Also
Refers to the Occupation Of
kiaochu and the German Poli-
teal Situation.

! BERLIN Nov. 30.-Emperor William
/ opened the session of the Reichstag
! to-day in person for the first time since
/ 1894. The ceremony took place in the
/ White Hall of the Royal Castle. His
majesty read the speech from the
! throne.
| The navy occupied the principal place
/ in the speech. The passage on this
/ subject was as follows:
/ The development of the German
navy does not correspond with Ger
many's mission at sea, and in the event
! of warlHle complications it would not
suffice to assure the security of the
home ports and coasts against a block
/ ade or more extensive operations on the
/ part of the enemy Neither has it kept
pace with the rapid growth of German
| tranoceanic interests. While German
trade is participating increasingly in
/ the worlds change of merchandise, the
| number of our war vessels does not
suffice to afford our countrymen abroad
the measure of protection correspond
| ing with Germany's position. nor the
support which can only be secured by a
display of power.
Although it is not our object to vie
with the maritime powers of the first
rank, Germany must, nevertheless, be
, placed in a position to maintain, ty
means of preparedness at sea, her
prestige among the people of the
globe"
Abiding to the projected reform in
the Military Penal Procedure, his ma
jesty said
The proposed reform. while follow
| ing so far as possible the lines of the
Civil Penal Code. meets the require
ments absolutely necessary for the
maintenance of discipline. The bill
will be submitted without delay
The Emperor's speech then touched
upon the finances of the country, on
which subject he remarked:
The condition of the finances is sat-
! lsfactorsf. ane a certain portion of the
anticipated surplus will be employed,
as during last year, in reducing the I'm
perial debt.
AN economic committee consisting
of representatives of industry, agricul-
ture and trade, has been adopted, by
means of whose expert advice it is in
tended to define the conditions and
scope of the extensive ramifications of
home productions, in order to obtain a
customs, tariffs and commercial rela-
tions with foreign countries"
Referring to the naval demonstration
in Kiaochou Bay, China, Emperor Will
liam said:
THE murder of the missionaries in
| China, and the attacks upon mission
stations, which have been placed under
my Imperial protection, and their well
| "a h 7 at "a
PEELED me to cause my squadron in
Eastern Asia to proceed to Kiaochou
Bay. the point nearest the scene of the
outrage, and to land troops in order TO
| obtain full reparation and security
against a recurrence of similar lament
able events
Touching the general political Situa-
ton, his majesty said:
Our political situation is in every
way gratifying, and reasonable guaran-
| tees of the maintenance of these rela-
| tions have again been afforded me by
my meetings with the allied and friend
/ ly monarchs, as we'll as by the brilliant
and cordial receptions accorded me in
my visits to Peterhof and Buda Pest.
The speech concluded:
'.An indications justify the expecta-
ton that, with Gods help, we may in
! the near future look forward to the
peaceful development of Europe and the
German Fatherland.
| After reading his speech the Emperor
/ added:
1.-TWO years ago, upon this platform,
/ swore before you, upon the consecrat-
| ed colors of my regiment of guards. to
preserve the Empire as l took it from
| my grandfather and to protect and
safeguard it's honor abroad. You have
/ thus all become parties to my oath, and
/ pray. in the name of the Empire, and
| in the presence of Almighty God. that
he will assist you in your work and help
me to protect in the future as in the
past. the honor of the Empire abroad,
which l have not valued too low 10 give
my only brother in pledge for it,
At the conclusion of the ceremonies
| the members repaired to the Reichstag.
where Raron Won Buel, as President Of
the House al the last session, opened
! the sitting. After welcoming the men,
| bers the President appointed tempor-
ary Secretaries.
Among the bills already presented to
the Reichstag are the budget bill, the
naval bill and the bill providing for re-
forming the Military Penal Procedure.
The roll call showed that ]I4 members
! of the Reichstag we're present. The
election of members of the presidential
bureau will take place tomorrow.
ambassador White and United States
| lConsul-General Schmidt attended the
oneuing sitting of the ReichstaS.
The speech from the throne was un-
fayorably criticised, as rule, by these
who have. up to the present, been able
to weigh it.