The San Francisco call., 1898-08-13

LONDON, Aug. 12.-The House of Commons met to-day succession Of questions on the subject of China elicited little information. The govern ment leader, Mir. Balfour. declined to pledge the Government to prevent the ratification of the Franco-Belgian Pe- king -Hankow concession, but promised that in the event of British capitalists purchasing railroad concessions ob- tained by French or Belgian syndicates in the Yang-tse-K Kiang valley, her Majesty's Government will support and assist them both in London and Pe- king, in this and in all other legitimate British commercial enterprises.
 The China appropriation bill then passed its third reading.
 The Queens speech at the proroga- tion of Parliament was as follows:
 My Lords and Gentlemen: My rela- tions with other nations continue friendly. I have witnessed with the deep est 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 affec- tion, and traditions. Negotiations re gently opened give fair ground for hop ing that the deplorable conflict will be brought to a termination by the conclu- sion of an honorable and enduring peace.
 The changes which have taken place in the territorial relations of other powers with the Chinese empire induced me to conclude arrangements whereby the har- bOr of Wei-Hai-Wei and certain positions adjacent to my colony of Hongkong were leased to me by the Emperor of China. l trust the arrangements will conduce to the maintenance of his independence and the security of his empire and be favorable to the development of the ex- tensive commerce carried on between the peoples of Great Britain and China.
 Paragraph three refers to the guar anteeing. in conjunction with Russia and France, of the loan to enable Greece to pay the Turkish war indemnity.
 The fourth paragraph expresses satis- faction at the conclusion of the con- Vention with France. finally settling the West African question.
 -' The speech then refers to the ar engagements made to establish at an early: date penny postage between the United Kingdom, Canada, Newfound land and elsewhere; makes reference to the plague still existing in certain portions of Western India and the Puntab, and concludes:
 l. ain thankful that bountiful harvests % have been gathered throughout the great CT part of India and that the internal and external. trade of the country are rapid 'ly recovering from the depression caused by the famine.
 Gentlemen of the House of Commons: l 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. am glad to recognize the value of the provisions to which you have assented for increasing the strength and efficiency of the army.
 My Lords and Gentlemen: 1 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 Eng land and Scotland. 1 trust this reform will tend to strengthen the bonds which unite the people of Great Britain and Ire land and increase their common affection for the fundamental institutions of the realm.
 After expressing satisfaction at the adoption of bills enabling accused per sons to testify in their own behalf and for preventing the abuse of patronage and occupation of beneflces of the es tablished church, "the principles of which bills have been generally accept ed" for many years, though hitherto there has been no opportunity to make them law" the speech ends:
 T pray that the blessing of Almighty God may attend you