Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-02-14
BALKAN SITUATION IS GRAVE.
1t Gives Cause for Anxiety, Though
Conditions Have Been
Ameliorated.
GREAT INTERES 7 WAS MANIFEST.
Belief is Practically Universal That
This viii be Last Session Of
Present Parliament.

London, Feb 1.-THE sixth session OF
| the first parliament Of his reign was
| opened by King Edward with all the
/ historic pageantry which has marked
the ceremony since his accession. The
sovereign himself read the speech from
! the throne to the assembled lords and
commons In the upper chamber.
The only reference to the Russo-Jap-
anese war; which, the king said, "un-
happily continues was to announce
that my government has been careful
20 observe I'm the strictest manner the
obligations incumbent upon a neutral
power
The lengthiest paragraph devoted to
the Balkans says the situation contln-
ues to give cause for anxiety. The
measures adopted at the instance Of the
Austro-Russian governments have
been instrumental IN bringing about
some amelioration IN the state of the
disturbed districts, but these measures
have still to be supplemented by radl-
cal reforms especially OF the financial
system before any permanent improves
ments can be effected In the admins
tration Of these provinces Of the Turk
ish empire"
The speech noted with satisfaction
that the Austro- Russian governments
had addressed to the porte proposals
for this purpose and added that the
British government was IN commune
cation with the powers concerned In
this important subject
COngratulatory references were made
to the visit Of the king and queen OF
| Portugal to England, TO the ratification
| OF the Anglo. French convention and to
| the arbitration agreements with Swe-
! cen and Norway, Portugal and Switzer-
| land.
The speech also mentioned the inter-
national commission entrusted with
| the investigation OF the circumstances
connected with the disaster to British
trawlers which resulted from the action
OF the Russian fleet In the North sea
and Of apportioning the responsibility
for this deplorable incident"
The king expressed the hope that the
Btfps 20 establish a representative
constitution for the Transvaal would
result In substantial progress toward
the ultimate goal Of complete self
government.
I ne kllk REFERRED 10 the llDeldn tN-
petition 10 the exchange OF visits be-
tween representatives of Lord Curzon
Of Kedlestou, the viceroy OF India, and
the ameer OF Afhganistan to discuss
questions affecting the relations OF the
two governments and concluded with
mentioning the proposals for the Tedis-
trbution Of parliamentary seats TO be
laid before the commons, the allen bill
to be introduced and the legislation
dealing with the unemployed, besides
other important legislation.
More than usual interest attaches 10
today's opening Of parliament as the
belief is practically universal that Il
will be the last session of the present
parliament Even should the govern
ment escape defeat II is thought that
Premier Balfour viii voluntarily dis
solve parliament in the autumn and
take the opinion Of the country on the
fiscal and other questions now agitating
the electorate.
Good weather favored todays page
ant which followed the procedure of
former occasions Big crowds were
about from an early hour watching the
assemblage Of the troops which lined
the route from Buckingham palace 20
the House OF lords. The usual interest
was shown IN the tme-honored search
OF the vaults beneath the houses OF
parliament Uy the StpUltll " INC bhdiu
with their lanterns and halberds, Be-
tween this ceremony and the appear
ance OF the royal procession a constant
stream OF carriages containing peers
and peeresses In their robes OF state
and officers I'm brilliant uniforms Gu
livened the somewhat tedious walt
The royal professions were the same
as last year, that Of the Prince and
Princess OF Wales from Marlborough
house, consisting OF three carriages with
an escort Of household cavalry pre-
ceeded by a few minutes the cortege OF
the king and queen from buckingham
palace. Five state carriages, each
with six horses, bearing state officials.
preceded the royal coach, with the
soyerelgns drawn by the eight cream
colored Hungarans which have figured
In all the state professions Of recent
wears. Household cavalry acted as
bodv-guard while In pursuance ot their
privilege a detachment ~ yeomen ~
The guard marched alongside the state
conch
The scene IN the nelghborhood II
buckingham palace was particularly
animated Large crowds selected these
points 10 view the peagants when the
soye~elgns issued from the gates Of tho
palace they were greeted with a great
burst Of enthusiasm which quickly
spread the whole lougth Of the fine, new
prucesglona road leading from the site
OF the Victoria memorial TO the horse
guard parndo and accompanied the
monarch and his escort through the
route.
At the royal entrance beneath the
Victoria tower OF the house ~ lords the
LING ,t,ra received Dy the high officers