Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-08-17
QUEEN TO PARLIAMENT.
Tells of Reasons Which Induced
Great Britain to Lease Terri
tory in China.

London, Aug. 12.-The House of Com
mons met today at 1870 a. N. A sue
cession of questions on the subject Of
China elected little information. The
government leader, Mr.. Balfour, declined
to pledge the government to prevent the
ratification of the Franco-Belgian Pekin-
HankoW concession, but promised that i'll
the event Of British capitalists purchas-
ing railroad concessions obtained by
French or Belgian syndicates in the
Yang-Tse-Kiang valley her majesty's
government will support and assist them,
both in London and Pekin, in this and
in all other legitimate British CONNER
cial enterprises.
The China appropriation bill then
passed its third reading and the session
was suspended until 2:3O p. N. when
Parliament will be prorOgued.
The Queens speech at the proroga-
ton OF Parliament is as follows:
My Lords and Gentlemen: Ny relations
with other nations continue friendly. l
have witnessed with the deepest sorrow the
hoStilities WNich have taken place between
Spain and the United States, two nations
of affection and traditions. Negotiations re-
Gently opened give fair ground for hoping
that the deplorable conflict will be brought
to a termination by the conclusion of an
honorable and enduring peace.
The changes which have taken place in the
terrltOrl2! relations Of other powers with
the Chinese empire, induced me to conclude
arrangements whereby the harbor of Wei
Hai-Wet and certain positions adjacent to
my colony of Hong Kong were leased to
me by the Emperor of China. | trust these
arrangements will conduce to the mainte-
nance of his independence and the security of
ms empire and be favorable to the develop
Inent or the extensive commerce carried on
between the peoples Of Great Britain and
China.
Paragraph 3 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 satisfaction at the
conclusion of the convention with France,
finally settling West African questions.
The speech then refers to the arrange
mentS made to establish at an early date
penny postage between the United King
dom, Canada, Newfoundland and else
where, makes reference to the plague still
existing in certain portions Of Western
India and the Punjab, and concludes:
l 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 Commons:
thank you for the liberal provision you have
made for the defense of my empire, The
sacrifices asked of you are severe but no
greater than the eXigencies Of the present
time require. 1 am glad to recognize, the
value Of the provisions to which you have
assented for increasing the strength and ef-
ficiency of my army.
My Lords and Gentlemen: I have seen
with much qualification that you have this
year added to the statute book an important
measure assimilating the local institutions
Of Ireland to those Of England and Scotland.
| trust this valuable reform will tend to
strengthen the bonds which unite the people
of Great Britain and Ireland and increase
their common affection for the fundamental
institutions of the realm.
After expressing satisfaction at the
adoption of bills enabling accused prison
ers to testify III their own behalf, for pre-
venting the abuse of patronage and the
occupation of benefces 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: Il pray that the bless
ing of Almighty God may attend YOU"