The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1898-08-20
THE QUEENS SPEECH.
Victoria Addresses Her Faithful
Lords and portant
Matters Referred To.


a. M. A succession of questions on
the subject of China elected little in
formation. The Government leader,
Mr.. Balfour, declined to pledge the
Government to prevent the ratifica-
ton of the Franco. Belgian Peking-
Hankow concession, but promised
that in the event OF British capital
lists purchasing railroad concessions
obtained by French or Belgian
syndicates in the Yang tee Kiang
valley Her Majesty's Government
will support and assist them, both
in London and Peking, in this and
in all other legitimate British COM
mercial enterprises
The China appropriation bill then
passed its third reading and the
session was suspended until 2:30 p.
M, when Parliament was prorogued.
The Queens speech at the proro-
CATION OF Parliament is as follows:
"My Lords and Gentlemen: My
relations with other nations continue
friendly. l 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 by many
ties of affection and traditions.
Negotiations recently opened give
fair ground for hoping that the
deplorable conflict will be brought
to termination by the conclusion
of an honorable and enduring peace.
"The changes which have taken
place in the territorial relations of
other powers with the Chinese en-
pire induced me to conclude ar
rangements whereby the harbor of
Wei Hal Wei and certain positions
adjacent to my colony of Hongkong
were leased to me by the Emperor
OF China. trust these arrange
ments will conduce to the mainten-
ance of his independence and the
security of his empire, and be favor
able to the development of the ex-
tensive commerce carried on be-
tween the peoples OF Great Britain
and China"
Paragraph 3 refers to the guaran-
teeing, in conjunction with Russia
and France, Of the loan to enable
Greece to pay the Turkish war
indemnity.
The fourth paragraph expresses
satisfaction at the conclusion of the
convention with France, finally
settling West African questions.
The speech then refers to the
arrangements made to establish at
an early date penny postage between
the United Kingdom, Canada, New
foundland and elsewhere; makes
reference to the plague still existing
in certain portions of Western India
and the Punjab, and concludes: 81
am thankful that bountiful harvests
have been gathered throughout the
greater part OF India and that the
internal and external trade OF the
country are rapidly recovering from
the depression caused by the famine"
"Gentlemen of the House of Com
mons: l thank you for the liberal
provision you have made for the
defense OF my empire. The sacri-
fees asked of you are severe, but no
greater than the exigencies of the
present time require. | am glad to
recognize the value OF the provisions
to which you have assented for in
creasing the strength and efficiency
Of my army.
"My Lords and Gentlemen: /
have seen with much qualification
that you have this year added to
the statute book an important meas
ure assimilating the local institu.
tions Of Ireland to those OF England
and Scotland. l trust this reform
will tend to strengthen the bonds
which unite the people of Great
Britain and Ireland and increase
their common affection for the