Norwich bulletin., 1920-12-24
KING GEORGES SPEECH AT PRoRoGUING OF PARLIAMENT

London, Dec B (By the A. P.1.-The kings speech on the occasion of the pro- 9rogaing of parliament at midnight to- night, after reference to the continued ssfrfendly relations with foreign powers, .alluded1 to the Greek difficulty and de- clared that the government would, in con Junction with the allies, endeavor to reach solution compatible with their joint re- responsibilities.
 The situation with respect to Russia Mass described at still unsettled and ob- IasehEe. and the king expressed the hope thzzft trade would shortly recommenee with Russsasend lead to an era of peace, great l iy needed by the suffering people of east 1 ern Europe.
 Ut is of the highest importance" the l speech continued, that Poland and her neighbors should compose their political differences and devote their undivided energies to producing internal stability and to the task of economic reconstruc- | tion"
 l The distribution of the mandates and other work of the assembly of the league
 of nations were stakeo up, and the assem- l bly, was declared to have shown it's sense of the importance of including all
 nations in its membership by admitting
 two late enemies"
 1 Tt is my earnest hope" added the
 king, that the spirit of harmony and
 goodwill manifested at the assembly is an augury of the value of the league as
 a force making for conciliation and peace throughout the world"
 The king referred with qualification at the success of the Prince of Wales inn peria1 tour and regretted that the prince was not able to inaugurate new councils
 in India The promise was given that the government would make every effort to reduce expenditure.
 Dealing with the subject of Ireland, the
 king said:
 ''The state of affairs in Ireland grieves
 me profoundly. I deplore the campaign
 of violence and outrage whereby small
 section of my subjects seek to sever Ire
 land from the empire, and I sympa thlze
 with the loyal servants of the crown who are endeavoring to restore peace and
 maintain order under conditions of unex-
 ampled difficulty and danger. Tt is my most earnest hope that all ! sections of the people of Ireland will n- sist upon return to constitutional meth ods. which alone can put an end to the terrible events which threaten ruin to that country. and make possible reconcil- iaton and lasting peace" Then, announcing briefly the passage of the home rule bill the king continued T sincerely hope that this act, the fruit
 of more than thirty years of ceaseless
 controversy, will finally bring about unity
 and friendship between all the peoples ot
 my kingdom
 [ The king concluded by accounting the
 measures passed during the course of tho parliamentary session He referred to tn. employment as the darkest cloud on the ; horizon, springing less from inter1a causes than from contraction of the ex : port trade, arising out of the poverty ot other nations and their inability to secure credits. The government, he said, wa. l giving unremitting attention to this prob g lem
 The session was somewhat unusual. I 3 was expected that parliament would pro l rogue about 8 o'clock, but there was diff e fculty in adjusting the differences be : tween the two houses over the agricultur e bill. which had been tossed about iron : lords to commons and from commons t 0 lords throughout the evening. This re
 suited in delay. The lords insisted o t their amendment, and the gouernnlen s suffered four defeats in succession, and Ii t most of thees cases the house of common a had, perforce to accept these amendment t to prevent the bill from becoming dea r letter.