The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-14
PARLIAMENT
IS PROROGUED
King Edward in His Speech Refers
Pleasantly to His Irish
Visit.
Recent Delay in the Venezuelan Ne
gotiations Is Explained by
Premier Balfour.

London. Aug. 14.-Both houses of par
lament assembled tarly to-day to con-
clude the business of the session.
In the house of commons several ques-
tons were asked relating to matters Of
international interest Premier Balfour,
in general reply, said there had been
an unexpected delay in the Venezuelan
question, due to the fact that France
and Spain objected to the use of the Eng
fish language by the tribunal.
The question had been left to the tri-
bunal itself to be decided, he said, and
he believed that the court, whose mem
bers the czar had been requested to nom
mate, would meet on the date originally
fixed.
Regarding complaints that the govern
ment was showing a lack Of sympathy
with Macedonia, Mr.. Balfour pointed out
that one Of the deep sources of mischief
was. the discussions among the Chris
tians. 1t was not the Turk alone-deep
as his guilt undoubtedly was-who was
responsible for the miserable conditions.
1t would be folly to forget that the Chris
tians committed atrocities on Christians.
The government was still Of the opin-
ion that the best policy was to support
the Austro- Russian endeavors to improve
the administration.
Subsequently the house was summoned
to the house Of lords to hear the king S
speech, proroguing parliament, read.
The speech was of little general or in
ternational interest. 1t alluded to the cor
diality of the kings reception in Portugal,
Italy and France and to the return visit
Of President Loubet, whose visit has
given rise to striking exhibition of the
feelings of mutual good will which prevail
in the two countries. >.
The most Interesting portion Of the
o@loI L, ~,
The King on Irish Reforms.
"The warm expressions of good will
with which I was everywhere received
greatly touched me. My visit enabled me
to realize how much was being attempted
to improve housing accomn1 odations fol
the working people, stimulate Commercial
activity and advance the methods Of agri.
culture; develop education and provide fol
the sick and infrm. Much remains to be
done, but it was with feelings Of the
deepest qualification that I noticed signs
of increasing concord among all classes
in Ireland, presaging, as hope, a new
era of united efforts for the general wei.
fare" .'%F -
Referring to the Irish land bill, the
speech says it offers inducements to the
land owners to continue the residence
among their countrymen and provides ia
cilities for improving the conditions O.
life in, the poorer districts of the west. I
adds:
"This reform, by removing the ancien
causes of social dissension, will, heartily
trust, conduce to the common benefit O.
all my Irish SUBJECTS 80 .., ..,
Reference is made in the speech to thu
general anxiety regarding the situation
in European provinces Of Turkey, to tn
great progress made in the work Of re
settlement and pacification in South AT
RIGA, and the improvement in the .condi
lions Of agriculture and finance in India.
After the reading Of the kings speech
parliament was prorogued till Nov. 2.