The record-union., 1898-02-09
Queen vlctoria's Speech Read Before the
House of Lords and Commons.
The Document Very Mild in Char
acter in Dealing With Foreign
Affairs-Great Britain's Re1a-
lions With Other Powers Con-
tinue Friendly-The Commons
Notified that Provision Must
be Made for Greater Military
Expenses.


Victoria and the twenty-sixth of the
United Kingdom. was opened by COM
mission at o'clock this afternoon with
the customary ceremonies.
The Queens speech was as follows:
My Lords and Gentlemen: My rela-
tons with the other Powers continue
friendly. The negotiations between the
Sultan of Turkey and the King of
Greece have been brought to a conclu-
sion by the signing of a treaty of peace,
under which the territorial relations be-
tween the two Powers are practically
unchanged
The question of the autonomous Gov
eminent of the Island of Crete has oc
copied the attention of the Powers. The
difficulty of arriving at a unanimous
agreement on some points has unduly
protracted the deliberations, but l hope
these obstacles will before long be sur
mounted.
Intelligence, which is apparently
trustworthy, was received of the inten-
ton of the Khalifa to advance against
the Egyptian army in the Soudan. and
l have therefore given directions that
s. contingent Of British troops should
be dispatched to Berber to the assist
dllCGf u Ills HlSIll4eSS, iilS hllSQlNt
u have conducted treaty of friend
ship and commerce with his majesty, the
Emperor of Abyssinia.
The report of the committee / ap
pointed in December, 1896, to inquire in
to the condition of certain of my West
Indian colonies has conclusively estab-
lished the existence of severe depression
in those colonies. caused by the heavy
l.
ly attributable to the reduction in the
cost Of production and the great increase
III its extent of recent years But the
fall has been artificially stimulated by
the system of bounties to producers
and manufacturers of beet sugar main
tanned in many Europeon States. There
are signs of growing opinion in those
States that this system is injurious to
the general interests of their population
and communications are now in progress
between my Government and the Gov
ernments principally concerned with a
view to a conference on the subject,
which l trust may result in the abolish
n.ent of the bounties. In the meantime
measures will be proposed to you for the
relief of the immediate necessities of the
West Indian colonies for encouraging
other industries and for assisting those
engaged in sugar cultivation to tide over
lie present crisis,
ION the northwestern borders of my
Indian Empire an organized outbreak of
fanaticisnl, which spread in the summer
along the frontier. induced many of the
tribes TO break their engagements with
my Government, to attack the military
posts in their vicinity and even to invade
the settled district of my territory.
was compelled to send expeditions
against the offending tribes for the pun
ishment of the outrages and to insure
peace in the future. A portion of the
Afridi tribes have not yet accepted the
terms offered them. but elsewhere the
operations have been brought to a very
successful close. The courage and en-
durance exhibited by my troops, British
and native. have overcome almost in
superb bic difficulties in the country
which they were operating, but l have to
deplore the loss of many valuable lives,
beth amongst my own troops and those
whose services were voluntarily and 10y
ally placed at my disposal by the native
servants in my Indian empire.
Il rejoice at the fact that there is
reason 10 anticipate a prosperous year,
both for agriculture and commerce,
throughout India.
Gentlemen of the House of Com
mons: The estimates which Will be
laid before you have been framed with
the utmost desire Tor economy, but in
view of the enormous ornaments now
maintained by other nations, the duty
of providing for the defense of the
Empire involves an expenditure beyond
former precedent.
Dealing with the proposed legislation,
the speech from the throne says that
measures will be introduced for a sys-
tenn Of local Government in Ireland,
substantially similar 10 Great Britains,
TO secure the increased strength and
efficiency of the army. amend the pres
ent conditions of military service, to
enable accused people to testify in their
own defense to facilitate the creation
of municipalities in London. and to pre-
vent recognized abuses in connection
with church patronage
Previous to the reassembling of Par
Lament the usual party OF beef-eat-
ers. accompanied by a number of Off
Gals and headed by Chief of Police
Horley, made the customary search for
the imitators of Guy Fawkes, formally
ascertaining that the vaults of the
houses of Parliament did not contain
anything inimical to the safety Of the
members.
The Irish Parliamentary party met in
committee room No. 10. Timothy Healy
and his supporters. who abstained from
attending the party meeting previous
TO the last session OF Parliament, wera
present. John Dillon was reelected
Chairman, and the Whips and Secre-
taries were also reelected.
On the resumption OF business in the
House OF Commons this afternoon the
new members took their seats.
On a seasonal motion that peers and
Lord Lieutenants should not interfere
in elections, Right Hon. James Lowther.
Conservative member of the Island OF
Thanet. division of Kent. moved to
amend by emitting the word peers"
Sir Wilfred Lawson, bart, Radical
member for the Coekermouth division
of Cumberland, seconded the motion.
Mr.. Ralfour admitted that it was true
the House had no power to enforce the
order, adding that unless invited by the
opposition leader, Sir Vernon Harcourt,
to adopt another course. he would vote
against the amendment.
The amendment was negatived by 80
to 200 votes.