Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1905-02-16
ENGLISH LAWMAKERS
CONVENE IN LONDON
Parliament Officially Opened
By King Edward VII.
RgAO Jus sPEEcH RON THRoNE
He 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, 1t is thought that Premier Bal.
four will voluntarily dissolve parliR.
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
seant 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
the 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 constant stream Of car
riages containing peers and peeresses
in their robes of state and officials
in brilliant uniforms enlivened the
somewhat tedious wait
The sixteenth session Of the first
parliament Of his reign was opened
this afternoon by King Edward with
al the ancient pageantry which has
characterized 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 document
was commonplace. The only refer
ence to the RussoJapanese war which
the king said "unhapplly continues
was to announce that my goyernmet,
has been careful 10 observe IN tie
strictest manner. the obligations In
cumbent upon neutral power
The lengthiest paragraph, devoted
10 the Balkans, says the situation con-
tinues TO give cause for anxiety The
measures adopted al the instance OF
the Austro Russian governments have
been instrumental Ia bringing about
some ameIioratlon in the state Of the
disturbed districts but these meas
ures have sull TO be supplemented by|
radical reforms. especially Of the iinan.
cial system before any permanent lm-I
provemonts can be- effected lu the ad.
mlnlstraton OF these provinces Of the
Turkish empire"
The speech noted with satisfaction
tha1 the Austro-Russian governments
had addressed 60 the porte proposals
for this purpose end added that The
British government vas in cOmmunI-
cation with the powers concerned up-
on this important subject
Congraiuatory references were
made 90 the visit OF the Ming and
queen OF Portugal 20 EnEiaud, 90 The
ratification OF The AuEioFrcnch con.
vcntion and to the arbitration agree
mcuts with Sweden srd Norway por
tugal and Switzerland
The speech also mentioned tbc iu
trrnatiouaI cumu Som 'eui.u .cG
with The Investigation Of tta clfclm
sianccs connected witl lhe disaster b
British traWIars which resulted from
The action OF the Rrs aH Geet BE- the.
North sea and of npp1rIUretnE The
responsibility foy ths dep.ouble iac-
dent
The King expressed tle hape THAI.
the steps Co cstaalsa representa-
live constitution f1r ir Tnrsaa
vouM -a,t OF suhaartai p-osr
towards ttr ultimate El of CON.
pete seif government
Tho King referred 10 the THetar
expedition 81 JEe exchange o. N'ta
between rcrrer-ltauu of iori Car
ton OF Krffaa1. fe az o.
ea rud ths antar q t.saan'r,r1 eel
discuss gG1s lf.s.lE ftr r
roas ol to- $50 e1raruuebt aHl coz
cu.et t,tt o-.ls the D1l
IT, ft thriou ~ nari11 lry
su .o ~ atf lerr the COMMON