BRITISH AND FOREIGN

State Papers.

SPEECH of the King, on the Opening of the British Parliament.- Westminster, February 14, 1905.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

My relations with foreign Powers continue to be of a friendly description.

It gave me particular satisfaction to receive as my guests during the past autumn the King and Queen of Portugal, a country which has for centuries been connected with Great Britain by ties of the closest friendship.

The war which has been in progress since February last between Russia and Japan unhappily continues. My Government have been careful to observe in the strictest manner the obligations incumbent upon a neutral Power.

The condition of the Balkan Peninsula continues to give cause for anxiety. The measures adopted at the instance of the AustroHungarian and Russian Governments have been instrumental in bringing about some amelioration of the state of the disturbed districts. Progress has notably been made in the reorganization of the gendarmerie, to which officers belonging to my army have contributed valuable assistance. These measures have still to be supplemented by radical reforms, especially of the financial system, before any permanent improvements can be effected in the administration of these provinces of the Turkish Empire. I note with satisfaction that the Austro-Hungarian and Russian Governments have lately addressed to the Porte proposals for this purpose. My Government is in communication with those of the other Powers mainly concerned upon this important subject.

The Convention entered into between my Government and that of the French Republic for the amicable settlement of questions

*See Arrangements of April 8, 1904, Vol. XCVII, pages 31, 39, and 53. [1904-1905. ΣΟΥΗΙΙ.] B

involving the interests of both countries has been approved by the French Legislature and duly ratified. It will, I believe, operate in a manner advantageous to both countries, while it cannot fail to strengthen the friendly relations which so happily subsist between them.

Agreements, under which international questions of a certain. class will be referred to arbitration, have been concluded between my Government and the Governments of Sweden and Norway, Portugal, and Switzerland.*

My Government has also come to an Agreement with that of Russiat under which an International Commission of Inquiry, assembled in conformity with the principles of The Hague Convention of 1899, has been intrusted with the duty of investigating 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 steps to be taken for establishing a Representative Constitution in the Transvaal are receiving the earnest consideration of my Government and of those administering the Colony, and will, I hope, result in substantial progress towards the ultimate goal of complete self-government.

An Agreement, the provisions of which are calculated to place the relations of the Thibetan Government and the Government of India on a satisfactory footing, was concluded at Lhassa on the 7th September. The great difficulties which the Mission encountered were brilliantly surmounted by the civil and military authorities responsible for its conduct.

The Chinese Government have sent a Commissioner to Calcutta to negotiate a Convention of Adhesion on their part to the Agreement with the Thibetan Government. Papers on the subject have been laid before you.

The Ameer of Afghanistan has sent his son, the Sirdar Inayatulla, to pay a complimentary visit to the Viceroy and GovernorGeneral of India at Calcutta, and a high officer of the Government of India has been deputed to Cabul to discuss with His Highness the Ameer questions affecting the relations of the two Govern

ments.

A situation has arisen connected with the administration of the property belonging to certain ecclesiastical bodies in Scotland, which requires legislative intervention. With a view to the wise consideration of such a measure I have appointed Commissioners, who are engaged in making an inquiry into all the circumstances of the case, and whose Report may enable you to frame such proposals as will, + Vol. XCVII, page 77.

* Vol. XCVII, pages 91, 68, and 93.

I trust, tend to the efficient administration of ecclesiastical funds, and the promotion of peace and good-will.

Gentlemen of the House of Commons,

The Estimates for the service of the ensuing year will be laid before you. They have been framed with the utmost economy which the circumstances of the present time admit.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

Your attention will be directed to proposals for diminishing the anomalies in the present arrangement of electoral areas which are largely due to the growth and movement of population in recent years.

A Bill to mitigate the evils arising out of alien immigration into the United Kingdom will be laid before you.

Legislation will be submitted to you for the establishment of authorities to deal with the question of the unemployed. I have noticed, with profound regret and sympathy, the abnormal distress which has been caused by the want of employment during the present winter. Arrangements of a temporary character have been made to meet the difficulty, but it is expedient now to provide machinery for this purpose of a more permanent character.

You have already partially considered provisions for amending the laws relating to Education in Scotland. They will again be brought before you.

A Bill to amend and extend the Workmen's Compensation Acts will be submitted for your consideration,

Proposals for improving the status of the Local Government Board and the Board of Trade, and for establishing a Minister of Commerce and Industry, will be laid before you.

Bills will also be introduced for amending the law with respect to Valuation Authorities, and the procedure for making Valuations; for consolidating the enactments relating to Naval Prize of War; for amending the law relating to the notification of industrial accidents; for the renewal of the Agricultural Rates Acts and other temporary Acts affecting certain classes of ratepayers; for the prevention of the adulteration of butter; and for the amendment of the law with regard to cases stated for the Court of Crown Cases reserved.

I pray that Providence may guide all your deliberations for the good of my people,

SPEECH of the King, on the Closing of the British Parliament.- Westminster, August 11, 1905.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

My relations with other Powers continue to be friendly.

It gave me great satisfaction to receive the King of Spain as my guest. His Majesty's stay in England will, I feel sure, serve to strengthen the cordial relations which have for so long subsisted between this country and the Spanish people.

Negotiations, due to the initiative of the President of the United States, are about to be entered into between the Russian and Japanese Governments for the purpose of terminating the deplorable conflict still proceeding in the Far East. It is my earnest hope that they may lead to a lasting and mutually honourable peace.

The Powers signatories of the Madrid Convention of 1880 have been invited by the Sultan of Morocco to take part in a Conference for the purpose of considering the best means of introducing muchneeded reforms into that country. The bases of such a Conference are under consideration.

The dissolution of the Union between Sweden and Norway is apparently imminent. I am confident that by the exercise of wise moderation on each side a settlement will be arrived at acceptable to both countries, and of such a nature as to enable my Government to maintain with the people of the Scandinavian Peninsula the same friendly relations which have prevailed in the past.

The condition of affairs in Macedonia and in Crete still gives cause for considerable anxiety, and continues to engage the attention of my Government and those of the other Powers concerned.

The King of Italy has delivered his Award in regard to the frontier between the possessions of Portugal in South-West Africa and the territory of the Barotse Kingdom, and a settlement of this difficult question has thus been effected.

I gladly accepted the invitation of His Majesty the King of Italy to send Delegates to the Conference called under his auspices to consider the question of establishing an International Institute for the collection and exchange of information bearing upon agriculture. I cordially hope that the outcome of the Conference will be of service to agriculturists both at home and abroad.

My Government has received from the Dominion of Canada a most patriotic offer to assume the entire administrative and financial responsibility for the defence of Halifax and Esquimalt, and that offer has been cordially accepted. The transfer of control will take place at an early date under arrangements in regard to which my

Government have been fortunate enough to obtain the fullest and most appreciative co-operation of the Dominion Government.

In accordance with the expectation held out at the opening of this Session, I have granted to the Transvaal representative institutions, which will be brought into operation as soon as the measures necessary for holding elections can be completed. I trust that all sections of the community will unite in exercising the large measure. of political power thus conferred upon them for the advancement and welfare of the Colony.

I have concluded a Treaty with His Highness the Ameer of Afghanistan continuing the engagements which existed with the late Ameer, and which, during his lifetime, secured friendly relations between my Government in India and His Highness' Government.

The text of the Agreement has been laid before you.

Gentlemen of the House of Commons,

I thank you for the satisfactory provision which you have made for the services of the year.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

I have given my assent with much pleasure to measures for renewing the legislation which lightens the local burdens which press upon the agricultural population, and for the mitigation of the evils which have arisen out of alien immigration into the United Kingdom.

I have gladly sanctioned a temporary Act for the establishment of authorities to deal with the question of the unemployed. I trust that the Commission which I have approved to investigate the operation of the existing poor law will materially assist the deliberations of a future Parliament in its examination of this difficult problem.

A Bill dealing with the ecclesiastical difficulties in Scotland has been passed into law. I hope that its results may not only put an end to a serious controversy between two Presbyterian Churches in that country, but may ultimately conduce to the closest and most harmonious co-operation between all religious bodies who accept Presbyterian doctrine and discipline.

In bidding you farewell, I pray that the blessing of Almighty God may rest upon all your labours.

• See page 36.