The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-01-31
PARLIAMENT CONFINES Reading of Queens Speech Followed by a Spirited
 Discussion of War.
THE GOVERNMENT ATTACKED
SHOULD HAVE KNOWN STRENGTH
 OF THE BOERS.

Urged to Prepare for All Eventualities-
 The Opposition Willing to do All Pos-
 sibIe for a Successful Persecution of
 the War-Lord salisbury's Defense
 Could Not Prevent Transvaal's Im-
 portation of Arms Calls for Unity to
 Meet inc Danger to Ameri-
 can Civil War.
 London, Jan. 30-The opening of par 1iament to-day was full of intense in terest for all Britons. It was the four teenth parliament of Queen Victoria, but only the customary formalities were observed. The House of Commons and the House of Lords met in joint session at 2:30 o'clock and listened with deep attention to the speech from the throne. (The text of the speech is given below). Following the reading of the speech the joint session adjourned, and at 4 o'clock, both houses convened in their respective chambers. In the House of Lords the discussion on the war com- menced at once.
 Debate in House of Lords.
 The Duke of Somerset moved an ad- dress in reply to the queens speech, and the Earl of Shaftesbury seconded the motion. The Duke of Somerset, during the course of his remarks, in moving the address in reply to the speech from the throne, said he looked forward confidently to a successful ter imitation of the war. He urged the ne cessity for reform in the military ad- ministration and said that, hitherto, the army seemed to have existed for the benefit of the war office, and that in fu- ture the war office must exist for the benefit of the army. The Duke of Somerset then eulogized the loyalty of the colonies, especially Canada, and strongly deprecated the adverse criti- cism of General Butler, his remarks in this connection being cheered He said he had every confidence in General Bull led and Lord Roberts. The Earl of Shaftesbury, conservative, emphasized the debt of gratitude which Great Brit ain owed to her colonies and expressed satisfaction at the settlement of the Samoa question.
 Opposition Leader Speaks.
 The liberal leader in the House of Lords, the Earl of Kimberley followed. He said he was glad to learn that Great Britain's relations with other states were friendly. He added that he believed the term could be justly applied to the relations with European gov- ernments and the United States and de- precated undue attention to the attacks of the foreign press His lordship con- graduated Lord Salisbury on the con- clusion of the agreement with Germany but strongly disapproved of one of MT. Chamberlain's /speeches. In that con- nection, however, he paid warm trib- ute to the conduct of the soldiers in the field and to the loyalty of the British colonies.
 Moment of Deepest Gravity.
 The Earl of Kimberley, continuing, said that although the moment was one of the deepest gravity he would not en- tirely abstain from criticising the con- 1 duct of the generals. It was the duty of the government to select men to con- duct these operations and it was their | duty to support the government It | was therefore, unwise to criticise the | generals in these operations. He did not | mean to imply that the generals were not doing their utmost to fulfil their arduous duties but the government would be wise if it made every effort to prepare thoroughly for what might occur in the future. Continuing, Lord said:
 Readiness for Ali Eventualities.
 eve might meet a. period of disaster o1oti with the other powers are friendly, it would be well to consider the possibilities of the future and it would be well if the gov prepared for all eventualitles and all dangers and be ready with the means to surmount them. The govern ment does not seem to have been aware of the scale of preparations of the South African republics He urged that the government ought to have been aware of the importation of arms into the Transvaal and ought to have in formed the Transvaal that unless it de- sisted it must result in Great Britain sending large force to South Africa He could not believe the government was so ignorant of the preparations of the Transvaal and they could not divest of the responsibility.
 The Jameson Raid.
 Baron Balfour of Burleigh said the Jameson raid had closed the mouth of the government and prevented it from protesting against the arming of the rransvaal. But, he added, the govern < nent must have known armaments were accommodating to an extent unjus : flied by fears of another raid and it vas the duty of the government to on the subject with the 3oer government; but, as the first step, !, t ought to severely punish the raiders. The country had not reached pass hat if the government appealed to it, II t would not have supported the govern nent in any preparations it thought He would do nothing to pre- s yent the government from carrying the ! var to successful conclusion.
 Losd SnItsbury's Defsnsr. ' Lord Salisbury, in reply to the Earl If Kimberley asserted that there was ,othing in the stipulations of the con