The St. Louis Republic., 1903-02-18
Pageant of Medieval Splendor Pre-
cedes Formal Ceremonies in
House of Lords.
VENEZUELAN CASE DISCUSSED.
Pleasure Is Expressed at Signing
and Ratification of Alaskan
Boundary Treaty With
United States.

LONDON, fen. li.-hlIlS f.uNdiu. dSSoih
panied by Queen Alexandra and surrounded
by the court and all the officers of state.
opened Parliament this afternoon.
Early In the morning the vaults of the
houses We're searched for imaginary con-
spirators, as usual. by the yeomen of the
guard, carrying ancient lanterns and use
less halberds.
The movements of the troops taking up
positions along the route of the procession
followed so the crowds which had been at
tracted by the fine weather and desire to
witness the royal pageant did not lack en-
tertainment during the long wait.
The royal procession, consisting of six
state carriages. escorted by life guards.
left Buckingham Palace at 80 p. m. Their
Majestics were seated in the last carriage,
which was drawn by eight Hanoverian
horses which have figured in all the recent
royal ceremonies. The King and Queen
drove TO the Victoria tower through the
Mall the Horse Guards and Whitehall.
All the great officers Of state, in varied uni
forms. were assembled at the royal entrance
of the House of Peers to receive the King.
The procession. which was identical with
that of the previous similar ceremony.
formed and headed by the pursuivants and
IltTdius. 10 Tie fUUlllS TOoIl lleil
Majesties being Immediately preceded by
the sword of state, carried by the Marquis
of Londonderry. "a.
BLAST OF TRUMPETS
After the robing. the procession reformed
and, with a blast of trumpets, advanced to
the peer chamber, the Duke of Devon
shire, Lord President of the Couneil.- pre-
ceding their Majesties with the imperial
crown, which he carried on I cushion. The
King then seated himself on the throne.
with the Lords, bearing the cap of nlainte-
nance and the sword of state, standing on
his right and left. The Queen sat on the
left side of the King and the Prince of
Wales on his right. The members of the
House of Commons were then summoned.
and on their arrival of the Lord High
Chancellor. Earl Halsbury, kneeing,
handed the King the speech. which his
Majesty read from the steps of the throne,
as follows:
My Lords and Gentlemen: My relations
with all the foreign Powers continue
friendly. The blockade of the Venezuelan
ports has led to negotiations for an ad-
justment of all the matters in dispute. 1
rejoice that n settlement has now been ar
rived at which has justified the blockading
Powers in bringing all hostile naval opera
tons to an immediate close.
Negotiations have taken place for an ad-
justment of the questions which have
arisen in regard to the boundary of my
possessions in North America, and that of
the territory of Alaska. A treaty provid-
ing for the reference of these questions to
an arbitration tribunal has been signed
and ratified"
BALKAN QUESTION.
The speech next referred to the Balkan
question. saying:
The condition of the European provinces
of Turkey gives cause for serious anxiety.
I have used my best efforts to impress on
the Sultan and his Ministers the urgent need
of practical, well-consdered methods of re-
FORM
After noting that Russia and Austria
have been considering the reforms which
the signatories Of the Berlin treaty should
recommend to the Sultan, the speech adds:
Il trust that the proposals will prove suf-
ficient for thee purpose, and that 1 shall
find it possible to give them my hearty
support"
The King next mentioned the Alden Hint.
erlanG dispute. and the Somaliland expedi-
ton; and then turned to South Africa, On
which subject he said: .
The progress of events in South Africa
has been satisfactory. The visit of the
Colonial Secretary has already been produc-
tive of the happiest results and the oppor-
tunity it has provided for personal con-
ferences with Lord Miner and the Minis
tiers of the self-governing Colonies and the
representatives of all interests and opinions
has greatly conduced to smooth adjust.
ment of many difficult questions and to the
removal of many occasions of misunder-
standing
After referring to the Kano (Nigeria) ex-
peditlon and the Indian durbar, the King
said:
II ar: glad to be able to state that the
latter imposing ceremony coinc;ded with the
disappearance of the drought and agricul-
tural distress in Western India and that the
prospects for both agriculture and COM
merce throughout my Indian Empire are
more encouraging and satisfactory than for
some time past
EXPENSES HEAVY.
The speech concluded with an intimation
that the budget estimates for the expendi-
lures would inevitably be large and with
promising the introduction of bills dealing
with the Irish land question, London edu-
cation, sugar bountie. and the London
docks.
In regard to the Irish measure. the King
said:
1T will, 1 trust, complete the series of
measures which have already done much to
substitute single ownership for the costly
and unsatisfactory conditions still attaching
to the tenure of agricultural land over a
large portion of Ireland
He lid special emphasis on the words
"signed and ratified in the paragraph Of
his speech referring to the Alaskan bound
airy, showing evident satisfaction at the fact
that he was able to make such an announce
ment.