The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-08-13
THE QUEENS SPEECH.
Address to House of Commons Which Met
Yesterday Forenoon.

London, August 12.-The House of
Commons met today at 1920 a. IN. A
host OF questions on the subject oil
China elected little information except
that Mr. Balfour declined to pledge the
government to prevent the ratification OIL
the Franco Belgian Pekin -Hankow con-
cession. But he promised that in the
event of British capitalists purchasing
railroad corcession obtained by French
or Belgian syndicates in China, Her
Majesty's government would support and
assist them. The China appropriation
bill then passed it's third reading and
the session was suspended until 2. 80
The Queens speech at the prorogation
is as follows:
"My Lords and Gentlemen-My rela-
lions with other nations continue friend
ly. 1 have witnessed with the deepest
sorrow the hostilities which have taken
place between Spain and the United
States, two nations to which my empire
is bound in many ties of affection and
traditions.
negotiations recently opened give
fair grounds for hoping that the deplo-
rable conflict will be brought to a termi-
nation by the conclusion of an honor
able and ending peace.
THE changes which have taken place
in the territorial relations of other pow
ers with the Chinese empire induces me
to conclude agreements whereby the har-
Dor of Wei Hai-Wei and certain positions
adjacent to my colony of Hong Kong
were leased to me by the Emperor of
China. I trust these arrangements will
DO %La ir,tor no ~ t,;- in,
dependence and the security of his empire
and be favorable to the development of
the extensive commerce carried ON be-
tween the peoples Of Great Britain and
China"
Paragraph refers to the guaranteeing,
in conjunction with Russia and France,
of the loan to enable Greece to pay the
Turkish war indemnity.
The fourth paragraph expresses satlsfac-
ton at the conclusion of the convention
with France, finally settling West Afri
can questions
The speech then refers to the arrange
ments made to establish at an early date
penny postage between the United
Kingdom. Canada, Newfoundland and
elsewhere, makes reference to the. plague
in India. and concludes:
II am thankful that bountiful har-
vests have been gathered throughout In
dia, and that the internal and external
of the country are rapidly recovering
from the depression caused by the famine.
s'Gentlemen of the House of Commons,
I thank you for the liberal provision you
have made for the defence of my empire.
The sacrifices asked of you are severe,
but no greater than the exigencies OF
the present time require.
Ny lords and gentlemen, I have seen
with much qualification that you have
added to the statute book an important
measure assimilating the local institu-
lions of Ireland to those of England and
Scotland. I trust this reform will
strengthen the bonds which unite the
people of Great Britain and Ireland.
After expressing satisfaction at the
adoption of bills enabling accused per-
sons to testify in their own behalf for
proving the abuse of patronage and the
occupation of beneficies of the established
church. the principles of which bills
have been generally accepted for many
years, though, hitherto, there has been
no opportunity to make them law, the
speech ends with MAY the blessings OF
Almighty God remain with you.