Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1905-02-16
ENGLISH LAWMAKERS
Convene IN LONDON
Parliament Officially Opened
BY King Edward VII.
READ HIS SPEECH FROM THRONE
Ne Says My Government Has Been
Careful TO Observe Strict Neutrality
During Russo-Japanese War-Many
Other Questions Touched Upon.

During RussO.Japanese War-Many
Other Questions Touched Upon.
London, Feb. 15.-MOre than usual
interest attaches to today's opening
OF parliament as the belief is practi.
cally universal that It will be the
last session OF the present parliament.
Even should the government escape
defeat it is thought that Premier Bal
four will voluntarily dissolve parlia.
ment in the autumn and take the
opinion of the country on the fiscal
and other questions now agitating the
electorate.
Good weather favored todays pa,
geant which followed the procedure
of former occasions. Big crowds were
about from an early hour watching
the assembling of the troops which
lined the brief route from Buckingham
palace to the house of lords. The
usual interest was shown in the time.
honored search of the vaults beneath
che houses of parliament by the yeo.
men of the guard with their lanterns
and halberds Between this cere-
mony and the appearance OF the royal
procession a constant stream of car.
riages containing peers and pecresses
in their robes Of state and officials
in brilliant uniforms enIlycned the
somewhat tedious wait.
The sixteenth session OF the first
parliament Of his reign was opened
this afternoon by King Edwsrd with
an the ancient pageanuy which has
characterized the ceremony since his
accession. The sovereign himself
read the speech from thc throne to.
the assembled lords and commons in
the upper chamber The document
was commonplace The only refer
ence to the Russo,Japanese war VII .h
the king said "unhappIly continue
was TO announce that my governm lt
has been careful TO observe in t-e
strictest manner, the obligations g..
cumbent upon a neutral power.
The lengthiest paragraph devoted
70 the Balkans, says the situation CON
tinues 10 give cause for anxiety The
measures adopted az the instance OF
the Austro-Rusgian governments haw.
been instrumental 10 bringing ab0n
some amollorauou IN the state 81 che
disturbed districts but these mcag
ures have siill to be supplemented by
radical reforms. especially OF the hnan-
clal system before any permanent I'M
proYements can be Objected in the adj
mlnistratlon OF these provinces OF The
Turkish empire"
The speech noted With satisfaction
that the Ausro-RuFsiau governments
had addressed 20 the porte proposals
fo4 this purpose End added that the
British government was IN communi'
cation WITH the powers concerned up
on this important subject,
Congratulatory references we're
made 10 the visit Of The King ard
queen OF Portugal TO England, 20 tho
ratification Of the AusloFrench c1n-
vention and 70 the arbitration agree
Inents with Sweden aud NorFay PoE
tugal and Switzerland
The speech also meniioa.a ihe in'
fornat.ouai commission entrusted
with the investigation oi Che circum.
stances convicted ultb csc disaster 70
British trawlers which resulted from
he action Of the Russian hccf l he
North sea and Of apnor-ona'irE the
responsibility foT thla dcp.onbie ise-
dent
me King expressed thc bop itat
ne stcua 10 establish o. representa-
dive constitution f1r h- Trarsfah'
wouh result 90 Substantial progress
towards he ullmate goal Of e'n'
piatc seifEoveTumsut
The Mag referred n ibe Thl1r'-r
expedition. i0 a. ercaanEe ~ F'..is
between rrpgercniai.s O. Lwl ce-
Or 81 Ectiefaa. ue r,cFToJ NJ Ir
sia and the aaerf ~ tfetlrl.' 20
discuss aretlasa zHrr.rr f &
liorr ~ a. tsn raFtrru rlrf tfe c--
r.afet ufa er
tnfc1 ~ asillr
ruu 81 - is't BEFORE a. orraort