Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-17
REJO|CES OVER PEACE
King Edward Formally Opens
Parliament.
DELIVERS AN ADDRESS
REFERS TO ADJUSTMENT OF VEN-
EZUELAN TROUBLE.
Alaskan Boundary, Balkan Question
and Progress Of Events in
South Africa.

LONDON, February liking Edward,
accompanied by Queen Alexandra and sur
rounded by the court and all the officers Of
state, opened parliament this afternoon.
Early In the morning the yeoman of the
guard searched the vaults of the house. as
usual, for imaginary conspirators. The
movements of the troops taking up posi-
tions along the route Of the procession fol-
lowed, 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.
The royal procession. consisting of six
state carriages escorted by life guards, left
Buckingham Palace at 1:30 pm.
Their majesties were seated in the last
carriage, which was drawn by the eight
Hanoverian horses which have figured in
all the recent royal ceremonies
The king and queen reached the Victoria
tower through the Mall, the horse guards
and Whitehall. All the great officers of the
state in varied uniforms 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
heraldS marched to the robing room, their
majesties being Immediately preceded by
the sword of state carried by the Marquis
Of Londonerry.
Procession Reformed.
After the robing the procession reformed
and, with a blast of trumpets, advanced to
the peers chamber, the Duke of Devon
shire, lord president of the council, pre-
ceding their majesties with the imperial
crown. which he carried on a cushion.
The king then seated himself on the
~, tho ..H
maintenance and the sword of state stand
ing his right and left.
The queen sat on the left 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
the lord high chancellor. Earl Halsberry,
kneeling, handed the king the speech, which
his majesty read from the steps OF the
throne, as follows:
King Edwards Speech.
my lords and gentlemen-My relations
with all the foreign powers continue
friendly.
THE blockade of the Venezuelan ports
has led to negotiations for the adjustment
Of all the matters in dispute. I rejoice that
a settlement has now been arrived at which
has justified the blockading powers in bring
ing all hostile naval operations to an imme-
diate close.
'FNegotiations have taken place for an ad-
justment of the questions which have arisen
in regard to the boundary Of my posses
sions in North America and that of the ter |
ritory of Alaska. treaty providing Tor J
the reference of these questions to an ar.
bitral tribunal has been signed and ratified"
Referred to Balkan Question.
The speech next referred to the Balkan
question, saying:
1.-THE condition of the European provinceHi
Of Turkey gives cause for serious anxiety.
affo orfS to ir,nr
the sultan and his ministers the urgent need
of practical, weIl-considered measures OF
reform"
been considering the reforms which the sig-
natories of the treaty Of Berlin should
recommend to the sultan, the speech addss
Il trust that the proposals will prove suf>
ficient for the purpose, and that l shall find
it possible to give them my hearty support.
The king next mentioned the Alden Hin.
terIand dispute and the Somaliland eXpedi-
ton, and then turned to South Africa, on
which subject he said:
Progress of Events in South Africa.
1.-The progress of events in South Africa |
has been satisfactory. The visit of the !
colonial secretary has already been pro-
ductive of the happiest results, and the
opportunity it has provided for personal
conferences with Lord Miner and the min
listers of the self-governing colonies and
the representatives of all interests and
opinions has greatly conduced to smooth
adjustment of many difficult questions and
to the removal Of many occasions Of mis-
understanding.
After referring to the Kano (Nigeria) ex- ,
petition and the Indian durbar the king
said:
King Greeted With Enthusiasm.
"I am glad to be able to state that the
latter imposing ceremony conceded with
fho ~ ho
cultural 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"
The speech concluded with an intimation
that the budget estimates of the expenditure
would Inevitably be large, and with promis-
ing the introduction of bills dealing with tna
Irish land question, London education,
sugar bounties and the London docks.
In regard to the Irish measure, the king
said:
Regarding the Irish Measure.
"It will. I trust. complete the series OF
measures which have already done much to
substitute single ownership for the costly
and unsatisfactory conditions still alta ching
to the tenure of agricultural land over a
large portion of Ireland"
He laid special emphasis on the words
"signed and ratified in the paragraph OF
his speech referring to the Alaskan bound-
ary, showing evident satisfaction at the fact
that he was able to make such an an
nouncement.
The king and queen returned to Bucking-
ham Palace at 3 O'clock The crowds every.
where greeted them with enthusiasm.
"a Black Cloud" in Venezuela.
LONDON, February 17-When the house
of commons assembled for the transa ction
of business this afternoon the speaker, Mr..
Gully. read thetxins's speech to somewhat
slim house. The liberal leader, Sir Henry
Campbell-Bannerman, who was loudly
cheered, said he desired Information on the
subjects Of Venezuela and Macedonia. ana
on the great question of the settlement OF
affairs in South Africa. In Venezuela, he
said, the cloud had happily passed. but 1t
was black cloud and one which many peo-
pie thought might have been avoided II
might have had dangerous consequences,
and 1t was the duty of the country to in-
quire how It had been led into such a difnA
Guilty.