The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-02-03


| After mentioning the political mission
with which the concurrence of the Chi
nese government has entered Thibetan ter
ritory in order to secure observations oi
conventions and expressing the trust thai
| an arrangement would be reached te
| peacefully remove the constant source o1
| friction, the speech concludes with the
warning that although the estimates have
| been framed with the utmost desire fol
| economy, the burden imposed by the ne
| cessities of navel and military defence
is undoubtedly serious" and mentions
some of the proposed domestic legisla-
ton. No suggestion of legislation con-
cerning Ireland was contained in the
Kings speech.
The house of commons assembled late
for business. Joseph Chamberlain was
warmly cheered by the bulk of the con-
| servatives as he entered. The mover
and seconder of the address in reply tc
the speech from the throne, both refer
red with satisfaction to the settlement
of the Alaskan dispute and paid tributes
to the manner in which the award was
received by Canada.
Sir Henry Campbell Bannerman, the
liberal leader in the house, said he de-
sired to question the government regard.
ing its attitude on the fiscal question
and asked was 1t a new government with
new policy. The only way of dealing
with the existing confusion, he added
was to appeal to the common sense of the
electors of the country
In conclusion, Sir Henry severely ar.
raigned the governments attitude on the
fiscal question, and announced that Johr
Morely would in few days introduce
more comprehensive amendment involv.
ing the whole situation.
Austin Chamberlain Replies.
Austin Chamberlain, the chancellor OF
the exchequer, replied. He defended the
government whose finance policy he said
had been clearly to stand by the pre-
mier. All the government asked for was
freedom to negotiate which would enable
1t to preserve the open door. and free
dom to trade.
The sitting was suspended at 7:3O D, m
The house of lords commenced the bus.
mess of the session at 4 o'clock Lord
tltzwilliam diberal unionisD, moved the
address in reply to the speech from the
throne. Earl Spencer, the general leader
of the house. followed. He alluded to the
situation in the far east. The earl said
he hoped the governments friendly of.
fees had been offered both powers, espe-
cially to Japan.
Earl Spencer added that he hoped an
early decision in regard to the govern
ments policy on the fiscal question would
be reached and announced that the oppo.
sition would take every opportunity OF
bringing the question before the house
Lord Lansdowne responded He con.
graduated the house ON the conclusion OF
the Anglo-French and Anglo-Italian trea.
ties. In regard to the reference Lord
Lansdowne said the government had
tried to reinstate in practice what is
affirmed rather as a matter of principle
in the French and italian treaties
Concerning Alaskan Decision.
Commenting on the Alaskan decision
Lord Lansdowne said that although the
tribunal which disposed of the Alaskan
difficulty mas not. strictly speaking, ar
bitral, it's efforts illustrated the possibil-
ity of settling by other than diplomatic
means long standing, dangerous interna-
tiona1 differences.
Concerning the Russo-Japanese dispute
Lord Lansdowne said it was an axiom
in diplomacy not to offer good offices un-
til they were asked for. Neither Of the
disputants had asked for 1t. In fact. II
was an open secret that one at least of
the disputants had said that mediation
was not desirable at the present time. But
should the opportunity offer. his majesty's