The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-02-16
THOUSANDS THRONI1
LONDON STREETS TO.
SEE ROYAL PAGEANT
King Touches on Problems
Now Facing Empire in a
Speech From Throne
Opening Parliament
BY Associated Press

London, February 1.-THE reassembiIng
of Parliament today, with all the cere-
mony and brilliance of pre-war days,
was considered an event of such signifi-
canoe, both as spectacle and because
of the vast Importance of the questions
to be taken under consideration, that
thousands of persons gathered in the
streets from early morning for a glimpse
of the pageant while within the upper
chamber members of the Commons and
the House Of Lords were crowded, to-
gether with as many of the peers and
peereSses and other distinguished per-
scnages as could press their way into the
building.
King George and Queen Mary occu-
pied the throne, while to the right of the
King was the Prince of Wales.
In his message, the reading of which
occupied only Is minutes, the King
touched on some of the problems with
! which the British empire is faced at the
present time-unemployment, Ireland, In
dia and the Near East.
Chief among these he put unemploy-
ment, which he ascribed to worldwide
restoration of trade, but the solution OF
which did not lie entirely with Parlia-
ment.
Violence in ireland was strongly con-
demned by the King, who declared:
government can be attained by this
means
Referring to the arrangements for max
ing effective the governments Irish act,
which, he said, were well advanced, the
King expressed the hope that the ma
jority of the Irish people would repu-
date violence and cooperate in meas
ure concerning self-government leading
to Irish unity by constitutional means
UNEMPLOYMENT PROBLEM
Unemployment he characterized ''as the
most pressing problem confronting you.
1t could not be cured by legislative
means, but the ministers of the crown
were striving to revive trade and pros
perity, and the government was endeav-
oring to assist those out OF employment
through extension of the provisions OF
the unemployment insurance act. He
called for cooperation by labor and capl-
tal employers and employees.
Although the newspapers had discussed
the possibility of a Sim Fem outbreak OF
some nature, the proceedings passed
without unusual incident.
In the debate In the House of Com
mons which followed the speech from
the throne, former Premier Asquith at
tackled the governments Irish, Meso-
potamian and financial policies.
The prime minister, Mr.. Lloyd George,
commended that the Irish rebellion was
being effectively dealt with. He also an
nounced that the much discussed report
Of Mai. Gen. Strickland, commander OF
the troops in Ireland, would not be pub
lshed, although he admitted that one
company Of "black and tans' had peen
dissolved because of the part they took
in the burning and looting of Cork.
At the opening session of the House OIL
Lords the Prince of Wales took the
oath, being present for the first time as
a member. Lord Curzon, secretary for
foreign affairs spoke at length on the
general conditions in Europe, which, ne
declared, were undoubtedly brighter ana
more hopeful than a year ago. WITH
reference to trade with Russia, he said'
everyone believes that in economic ar
rangements lies the real chance OF recov,
erv for the eastern parts of Europe and
Russia"