The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-07
FORMAL OPENING OF
 PARLIAMENT BY KING King George and Queen Mary
 Occupy the Throne SPEECH IS VERY BRIEF Brilliant Assemblnge of Peers and Members Greets the British Mon- archs ms the Legislative Body Assemblies
SPEECH IS VERY BRIEF

London, February 6-King George and
 Queen Mary for the first time in their
 reign proceeded in state this afternoon from Buckingham palace to Westminster, where his majesty read the speech for
 mally opening parliament. During the
 ceremony the Queen was seated at the
 side of the King Though the day was dark end chilly,
 an immense throng was gathered in St.
 James park and In Whitehall, where the
 gorgeous procession passed. Other thou sands surrounded the parliamentary 1 buildings. Their majesties rode in the gllded state
 coach drawn by eight cream colored
 horses caparisoned in gold and purple.
 The King wore a field marshars uni form.
 As the royal party passed the cheering
 was unusually hearty, as it was the first
 opportunity the public has had to ex-
 press it's qualification over the vindication
 of King George in the recent libel suit
 against Edward Mylius.
 An escort of life guards preceded th.,
 state coach and yoemen of the guard fol- lowed Five state carriages, each drawn
 by six horses, were occupied by officials
 of the court and gentlemen and ladies
 in waiting. Regiments of the guards lined the route and as the procession
 moved the artillery regiments fired the
 royal salute. The crown and sword of
 state were borne from St James palace to parliament in the royal carriage under
 the escort of the guards.
 House of Lords Packed Officers of state and officials of parlia-
 ment received the rulers at the royal en-
 trance beneath the Victoria tower The
 house of lords was packed when the i'm perial procession entered from the rob ing room at 2:3O o'clock A number of
 peeresses had seats on the floor with
 the peers. The bishops and ambassadors, with their wives, occupied seats at the
 left of the throne
 In the absence of American Ambassa- dor Reid, who is having a holiday at hcme the United States was represented by William Phillips, secretary of the embassy. Mrs Phillips was with her hus-
 tand. The colonies for the first time were represented by the colonial agents general. Lord Strathcona, high commis-' sicner for Canada. was present in this capacity and with him were the repre- sentatives from Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Other diplomats, including others of the American embassy. occu- pied places In the royal gallery.
 Speaker Lowther and as many mem- bers of the house of commons as could crowded the floor and stood in the aises.
 The officials of state in regalia included Earl Darlington, Earl Chamberlain, es- corted their majesties into the chamber and were grouped around the throne dur | ing the ceremony. The Earl of Beau champ, first commissioner of works and
 public buildings bore the sword of state l Before the King.
 Speech From the Throne The Kings speech from the throne was brief and colorless. It opened with l filial reference to the death of King Ed ward The only references to foreign affairs was a mention of the fact that ne- gotiations had been opened with Japan for new commercial treaty and an allu- sion to the friction In Persia over the
 disturbance of British trade routes. A casual expression of interest in the ap- preaching imperial conference was made Only two proposed legislative measures
 were mentioned specifically. Proposals" !" said the King, Twill be submitted without
 delay for settling the relations between the two houses of parliament with the
 object of securing an effective. working constitution" Legislation also would be had, his
 majesty said, to provide insurance against
 sickness and unemployment.
 Canadian Treaty Criticized Both Lord Lansdown in the house of lords and A. J. Balfour in the house of commons, the respective leaders of the opposition, took occasion to de- lnounce the reciprocity agreement be- ltween tho United States and Canada. but the evening session of parliament was mainly devoted tp getting the leg fslative ship under way. . Premier 4Asquith gave formal notice
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