Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-08-12
England Allows the Far East Con-
oession to Stand.
BALP0UR STATES BRITISH POLICY
Queens Speech at Prorogation of
Parliament Today.
HER VIEW OF OUR WAR

LONDON, August 1.-THE house of COM
mons met today at 1880 am. A succession
of questions on the subject of China elicit
ed little information. The government
leader, Mr.. Balfour, declined to pledge the
government to prevent the ratification of
the F'ranco-Belgian Pekin- Hankow conces-
sion. but promised that in the event of
British capitalists purchasing railroad con-
cessions obtained by French or Belgian
syndicates in the Yangtse-Kiang valley,
her majesty's government will support and
assist them. both in London and Pekin. in
this and in all other legitimate British
commercial enterprises.
The China appropriation bill then passed
Its third reading and the session was sus-
pended until 2:30 pm.
When the house of commons reassemblad
the members, according to custom, proceed
ed to the house of lards. where the queens
speech was read. They then returned to
the house of commons, where the speech
was again read.
Parliament was then formally prorogued
until October %.
Her Majesty's Speech.
The queens speech is as follows:
MY Lords and Gentlemen: My relations
with 9th T nations continue friendly.
have witnessed with the deepest sorrow the
hostilties 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 hop
ing that the deplorable conflict will be
brought to termination by the conclusion
Of an honorable ard enduring peace.
1.-THE changes which have taken place in
the territorial relations of other powers with
ann mo To linda
arrangements whereby the harbor of Wei
Hai-Wei and certain positions adjacent to
my colony of Hong Kong, were leased to
me by the emperor of China. 1 trust these
arrangements will coHduce to the mainter-
anee of his independence and the security
of his empire and be favorable to the de-
velopment of the extensive commerce car
RED ON between the peoples of Great Brit
ain and China
Turkish War Indemnity.
Paragraph three refers to the guarantee
ing, in conjunction with Russia and
France, of the loan to enable Greece to pay
the Turkish war indemnity.
The fourth paragraph expresses satisfac-
ton at the conclusion of the convan tion
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
dem, Canada, Newfoundland, and else
where; makes reference to the plague still
existing In certain portions of western In
dia and the Punjab, and concludes:
Il am thankful that bountifU1 harvests
have been gathered throughout the great
er part of India and that the internal and
external trade of the country are rapidly
recovering from the depression caused by
tho 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 pres
ent time require. 1 am glad to recognize
the value of the provisions to which you
have assented for increasing the strength
and efficiency of my army.
To the Peers.
My Lords and Gentlemen: I have seen
with much qualification that you have this
ant measure assimilating the local insti-
tutions of Ireland to those of England and
Scotland. l 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 adop-
ton of bills enabling accused persons to
testify in their own behalf; for preventing
the abuse of patronage and the occupation
of benefices of the established church, the
principles of which bills have been general
ly accepted for many years, though, hith-
erto, there has been no opportunity to
make them law the speech ends with: II
pray that the blessing Of Almighty God
may attend you.