KING OPENS NEW PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1085, 25 March 1911, Page 10

KING OPENS NEW PARLIAMENT.

BRILLIANT CEREMONY. : OVERSEA DOMINIONS REPRE- ; SENTED. I THE NEW DECLARATION. The King and Queen had a great and splendid welcome from tho people on Monday, February G, as they drove to and from Parliament. Tho throng was larger and moro enthusiastic than ever, ; and the Sailor King and tho Queen betrayed their keen pleasure in their responses to tho acclamations. Tho only thing to regrot about a Stato opening of Parliament is that so few of "the general public can see it. In a ;most picturosquo manner it keens un that : tradition of dignified pageantry which lias j ever since Tudor times distinguished our ■ Court. It combines, with peculiarly happy effoct, a 6tately ceremonial with a • necessary business. ; Once seen it stands out always in the ! memory, distinct and clear. But thoso nho were privileged to attend Monday's > . opening had n 6oectaelo moro striding than usual offered to their gazo. Never j in.living recollection has tho Houso of j : Xords been'fuller. Tho number of Poor-' | osses was much larger than usual. Of tho five benches on either sido they occupied tho middle three, making a most ; effective break between tho Peers on tho j tho front and tho back benches. They [ were all, of ; ( course, in black or black | and white, but : there wcro numbers of . .exquisitely pretty gowns, and nearly all * wore white feathers, so tho impression i they mado collectively was anything but j sombre. * 1 " . . Dazzling Scene. j" Tho Ambassadors' Box was, as usual, a 1 B'ow of gorgeous uniforms, among : whiolv tho plain evening dress of the | United btates representative looked very ; severe. Beyond tho Ambassadors, nearor I to the Throne, woro tho High; CommisI eionei-3 for tho four great Oversea Do- | minions. For tho first time they, wero i present. For tho first time—it is said by I If 0 r"; m "- s OVR command and initiative— |- tho Lmpire was directly represented -at the opening of the Imperial Parliamcrit. liie Archbishops and Bishops mado a chango this year from their customary •Jawn sleeves and %vhito surplices. They tvcto in their Peers' robes, with -deep .tippets of whito fur round their shoulders. /There-was a largo miister of judges directly in front of tho Thr'ono; I. their wigs massed together mado a ctiri:ous patch amid tho prevailing i scarlet, v '

It was'just on a quarter past two when the royal procession entered. The King wore a. naval uniform beneath his heavy legal robe. The Queen looked a little ; nervous,.. but handsome and winning, as she bowed to the awembly before taking ;',her seat. Beside her stood.Lord Beau-j-ch-amp, holding tho Sword of Stnto; on' side, close to. the King, were •lord Crewe, carrying the Crown on a Uargo red velvet cushion, and Lord Win- ; Chester, holding the Cap of Maintenance, , Lord Morloy of Blackburn, attending in his capacity as Lord President of the .Council, seemed rather to shrink away from the blaze of light (increased at the ; moment {of their Majesties'.entrance) and •to feel himself in strange company among! ;the thro'tfg of courtiers*'.

The King's Declaration. , [ "My lords, pray, be seated," said King George, and he sat down to await tho ;arrival at the bar of members of tho House of Commons, who .could not bo summoned to attend until tha King had arrived. :• Ho looked well and vigorous. ■Tho Qusjen was ratjjer pale'. Upon her corsage glittered the.two large Cullinan diamonds. A river of light pldyed over her broad diamond collar and lit up the i brilliants in her graceful crown, i Immediately the Commons were at the bar the lord Chancellor advanced arid, bowing low, handed a paper to his Majesty. What he read from it came as a surprise. Instead of beginning "My lords and gentlemen," it began, "I, George." ' It was not tho Speech from ihe Throne, but his Declaration of adherence to the Protestant .Faitjh, with thophrases that made it offensive to Roman .Catholics now happily omitted. The Declaration ran thus: ' !'_ I. George', do solemnly and sincerely *. in the presence, of God profess, testify, : and declare that f am a faithful Pro-, 1 testant,' that I will'to the true intent ■ . of the enactments which secure tho . Protestant, succession to the Throne ■ of my realm uphold and maintain the | said enactments to ,■ the best of my { powers according to <law. .•> ■ When the King had read this iff a firm, resonant voice, the-Lord Chancellor handed Mm a blotting-pad . with silver inkstand. attached 'and'ca pen. . Resting : the Declaration oh the arm of tho Throne, his Majesty signed it, arid then handed it back. In exchange the Lord Chancellor gave him" the Speech from 'the ■Throne. Puttiug on his naval cocked hat, and sitting down, he at once proceeded to read it. Aftor tho reading his '. Majesty took off his hat, and handed the Queen out, she cui-tqring prettily assho.went. The.procession re-formed. All was over,.;' Parliament had begun. ' ,

The King's Speech. . Tho following is the full text of the King's Speech:— ' My Lords, and Gentlemen,— ' In opening tho first Parliament elected, ill My roign, the grievous loss which the 'Empire has sustained by.', the death of My ■beloved Father is uppermost iu My thoughts. When, a year ugo, He addressed you from the Throne, no ono could have ioresecn that His life of. unceasing and devoted activity ■' in the service' of His subjects was so soon to bo cut short, Bowing to tho inscrutable decree of Providence, I take courage from His example, and, I am.'sustaiueu in My abiding sorrow by the sympathy extended to Me by My people in every part of My Dominions. i have.: welcomed--back My. Uncle, the Duke of Connaught, on tho completion of the Mission in South Africa which I entrusted to him, and it has deeply gratified me to learn that ho was received with demonstrations of the utmost enthusiasm and loyalty in every part of My South African Dominions,'and by every class of the community. My relations with .foreign. Powers continue to bo friendly. ■ The- Japanoso Government, having given notice of tlieir. intention to terminate the Treaty'"6f ; Commerce and Navigation of 3894,' negotiations, which it is hoped will result in a satisfactory arrangement, have teen entered upon for tho conclusion of a new Treaty. Frequent complaints of tho injury inflicted on British trade by the continued disorder on tho trade routes in Southern Persia led My Government reluctantly to addrass strong representations, to tho Persian Government, who havo since given attention to tho subject. Somo improvement has lately been shown in tho condition of the routes, and My Ministers propose to aiait further developments before pressing for tho adoption of their own proposals, which, in any case, would have no other object than to see the authority of tho Persian Government restored. an<l trade protected. I look forward with much interest to the assembling in May noxt of the Imperial ' Conference, at which the Chief Ministers of my Self-Governing Dominions and of tho Mother Country will unito in counsel regarding matters of importance submitted by My respective Governments. , :■ It is My intention, when the solemnity of My Coronation has been celebrated, to revisit My Indian Dominions, and there to hold an Assemblage in order to make known in person to My subjects My succession to tlio Imperial Crown of India. Gentlemen of the House of Commons,— « The Estimates for tho ensuing year will In due course be laid before you. My Lords, 'and Gentlemen, \ Proposals will be submitted to you without delay for settling the relations between the two Houses , of Parliament, with the object of securing the inoro effective working of the Constitution, j Measures will be presented- to you, in ■pursuance of intentions already declared, ,for carrying out and'extending the policy initiated in- previous-Parliaments, by ' se-

I curing, the permanent .'provision, of .Oldago l'onsions to persons previously disqualified by, reason of (he receipt of Poor |,ltelief; and by providing for tlio insur'anee of tho industrial population' against sickness and invalidity, and for the insurance against unemployment of those engaged in trades specially liable to it. Bills dealing with other measures of importanco will be introduced and proceeded with as time and opportunity allow. I pray that Almighty God may bless your labours. ; ; ■

THE RECIPROCITY DEBATE.

MR. BALFOUR'S SPEECH. MR. ASQUITH'S DEFENCE.. A touch of humour, and a light sparring bout between- leaders opened the work of a strenuous session iii tho Commons (says the "Daily Mail"). The debate of tho night turned as much on tho reciprocity agreement as on tho 'Veto Bill. TJie House did not seem 'yeiiy different from last, year's,., but Ali\ r rtyike Pease Tr as 011 front, Opposition bench, Air. Chiozza Money and Sir Ilenry'Norman among the Liberals, anil/. Mr. "Will Crooks in tho midst of the .Labour members. Mr. Lough had k:curcd the corner seat on the front bench below the gangway which used to.be Sir CharlES'Dilke's, and in IJie corresponding seat exactly opposite Eat' Lord Hugh tceil.' 'The Irishmen, were present in force. ■•■ Tho .front benches, wore .full:,-. Mr.. Balfour was in his .pjace, bronjujil ,in-.-face, and looking bctteV 'iff.'.health than.'•'for'.'some •'yoars'v pas&'TAWhijii-'' ho his voice and manner confirmed the impression. Mr. Austen Chamberlain w3s 'n9t;presont.vn{3ln/ ; lounged on the Treasury bench,'throwing a smiling word occasionally to Mr. Churchill on his right. Sir Frederick Banbury, by virtue of his representation of tho City, also sat for the moment on the Treasury bench. He is,no man to give up ancient privileges, even if it means the risk of political contamination. "7. Tho Address,' in reply fo'-tfto- Speech from tho Throne, was moved by Mr. Harold Baker, tho sharp-featured, blackhaired young member ' for' Accrington, and seconded by Mr. Wileg, member for South Islington. They sat side by sido in Levee dress, just,.-behind.-the 'Prime' Minister. Both were listened, to attentively and" were warmly cheered.

MR. BALFOUR. A ringing,, warlike cheer went up from tho Unionisls when Mr. Balfour rose. lie was-in brilliant mood this evening. After graceful compliments to Mr. Baker and Air. Wiles he delighted the House with a witty arid pungent spcecli, in which the Government,-were very severely handled. Yet such is Mr. Balfour's gift that the Liberals enjoyed it nearly as much as the Unionists. His tone and manner wero as soft and gentle as thoso of any child, and'yet Jlr. Churchill winccd heneath.'hislhriists, and most of the other . Ministers werte^distin'ctty -: mictfmfortahle. Mr."'As'tjuith,""as is his habit, concealed his thoughts beneath a semi-cynical smile —though onca or twice, .when Mr. Balfour was dealing with Mr. Churchill most deftly, he laughed with unaffected merriment. It was on the question of Ilome Office administration that Mr. Balfour tackled the Homo Secretary. Alluding first to tho halting and indecisive action during tho South Wales riots; ho passed on to the Stepney battle. "What attitude was taken up by tho Home Office?" ho asked. "Troops were assembled, police gathered in overwhelming numbers, guns called to the scene of action—arid from that sccne of action the right lion, gentleman was not absent." The -House laughed merrily. "I understand that'ho did riot call up 'tho police, nor had ho anything to (Jo, wit(i tho massiiig of, artillery." 2Fh«ro s more Jaughterj "during which ; Mr. Chtirchill .wriggled 'uneasily in his seat and tried to smile.

"Mr. Churchill was in what I believe is technically known as the'zone of fire— 'ho and the' , photographers.- (Roars of laughter, in which-Mr. Asquith joined.) They were both risking their lives. I understood what tho photographers were doing. (Renewed laughter.) "But what doing?" j'tr. BalfpuT'coiild think 'of'nothing more embarrassing to those carrying out the operations than tho presence of tho Home Secretary "with the photographers." ; . He uttei'ed a warning against tho lenient treatment of, the criminal who happened to. be .picturesque or was capable'of "figuring agreeably in a peroration. Wo know that .there is one-law,for rich and poor, and there ought not to be a difference of tho law for tho picturesouo arid tho commonplace." " ' Mr. Balfour then turned to tho Canadian reciprocity' agreemeht. Ho said: I do. not suggest the ; smallest criticism on any Dominion statesman. The British Lmpirohas reached a stage: when this c.oniitryiis;one of nvanyiOQminunities equal ;£?«W9 c]l ..P'.hcr- us to criti;ci|o,fhp. .actions Never"tn'eless,""there has been, a "departure by ii , Governments of Canada and tho Uuitcd States which must havo a farreaching effect, and, iritis carried out, most tpijlfe ,smi>ire. I'.or -.generations.'Canadian .'statesmen have aimed 'at 'develoning 'tlfeir on Imperial lines, looking to English markets for their exports and obtaining their imports so far as possible from their brothers of tho Empire. Millions of money havo been expended in' framiilg their system of transport with this object. All through theseyears they have ottered preference to this counti-v. The importance of tho preference has been admitted as fully by Liberal statesmen as oy us; What wo required for tho development of our industrial position was a contihuanco of Canadian preference. What havo Thev .have deliberately,ctaken tlie onjrasito poir e « 7 cßiarlyjßtiniated/ giateful-- as we might be for Canadian pieference, and however advantageous that .nrefcrenco might bo to us, nothing would bo given to. them in return. . It is not our business to criticise Canadian statesmanship. Indepd, can anybody crihcis6;:thcm if, after thirtv years of vain endeavour—(Ministerial laughter and Opposition cheers)—to induce us to join with- thorn ill a generous scheme of Imperial trade,, they .turn rouild, and make an arrangement with another great friendly demotrfttcy, 'afi' hrrangemftat which if • carried put ; will certainly '-create a break -ill th? cbntinuity of the policv of the last .thirty years, and will make themcommercially and economically dependent on tho great southern-nation?-"' , If the policy is carried out I shquld ' regard'it as'_ a"great ' Imperial disaster—(Opposition cheers)—a disaster brought upon us entirely by the policy of the Government .andj'thoso ' "?.°. support ' the Gove'fflmsnt. ■ (Ministerial cries.of "Oh";and Opnosition chcers.) Finally, Mr. Balfour "asked why tho new Parliament was in existence.. Why i a ~.'"'s Government'go =ti> -fhe country? Was it for emphasis of approval of their policy? If .so,..what emphasis had they .got? h Had th.e .country: jnado th'em any stronger than before? " Was.- tho preamble of the Veto Bill which forecasts reform of tho Lords to bo ignored, and if reform were to bo left to the indefinite future',"'was' there to bo an interregnum when thd country would have the protection of neither the old nor tho new Constitution? ■ There was a largo measure of agreement on' general principles, but ho indicated that if tho Government took up 'an' uncompromising attitudo their expectation of a smooth, screno session would be disappointed. l

MR. ASQUITH'S REPLY. Mr. Asrjnith got a warm cheer from his supporters when lie rose. His tono was singularly amiable, almost tame, and rarely lias'the Trimo Minister made an important speech with less of fHit in it. 110 spoke of tho strengthening of international friendship with ourselves, and particularly reciprocated the sentiments recently expressed by JJL Piclum, the French Foreign'.Minister. ' ! ' Adopting a lighter tone, lie turned to deal with some of Mr. Balfour's pleasantries, and began by a smiling reference to Mr. Churchill. "My right hon. friend," ho said, "suffers from, tho dangerous - endowment of an interesting personality. Why should photographer's bb found hi the company of my.right hon. friend? It is because' they know he interests tho wider public." . Dealing with tho Canadian question, Mr. Asquith pointed out that it was not settled and that it was to be discussed in the Canadian Parliament at once. Ho thought that for the present it would be wiso to abstain from criticism, and he gently eluded Mr. Balfour for going into the matter. 110 allowed himself, however, one or. two general jemarks.. •In regard to Canadian preference we shauld haye done nothing to prevent .tie

■ natural trend of events, done nothing . which in the long'ruu would have been • beneficial to Cumida, and done something • 'which would have been vitally injurious ; ;to tlio people of this country, if ior the . purpose lit a system of preferential tarilfs i 'we Had put a tux on tno importation of 'food from Kussia, Argentina, ami other places outsido tho .British limpire. ft was t„ him as certain as the rising of tho sun that with the growth of population in the United States- and the exhaustion of her sources of supply, that country would have "to bring down her tariff walls' close to her own doors." JJeuling with the last election, Dr. Asquith declared he had never indicated that an increase of strength in the Commons was_sought as an endorsement of policy. He was quite content with his majority. Ho assumed, till tho contrary was demonstrated, that tho Veto Bill would pass by means of tho ordinary Parliamentary methods. Private members' time would be taken up as far as Easter, and he hoped by this means to', get the Bill into tho House of Lords be•;for the Coronation. In tho discussion Mr. liamsay Mac Don. aid (new chairman of tho Labour party) criticised Mr. Balfour's statement about Canada, and said that his description of Ithe proposed arrangement as an Imperial disaster was a colossal blunder. Mr. MaciDonald declared tho Labour party's opposition to the preamble of tlio Veto Bill. The party was an independent force and would support the Government only in so far as they believed in tho Government's measures... j Mr. George Wyndham attacked the Parliament Bill, and explained what some of its eflecis would be. "It is a sham and a ;fraud on tlio nation "to ask them to make .a. change in the Constitution ; to . enable them to pass a IIome ; Bule measure befdro 'laying it before the public in-its various ■stages. J Mr. J. H. Camnbell. 1v.C.,. moved the Adjournment of tho debate; . and : the lllouso roso at 10.58. • •

lord lansdowne, ■"CONSIDERABLE DIMINUTION 01" ; PKEI'EHENCE." . ; Lord Lansdowno opened the debate in the Kou.se of Lords alter Lord Ilkeston (Sir Walter Foster) and Lord "Willingdon (Mr. Freeman Thomas) had moved and seconded the Address to the King. There is restlessness in the world, he proceeded; competition in arms as well as for commercial advantages - becomes keener and keener;'ho. would, bo sanguine who said that tho condition of tlio civilised world was one of established equilibrium. Lord Lansdowno asked for assurances that our interests have- been protected in the new Japanese treaty, and. for information as :to ,-tho,- alleged , barbarity in Macedonia. '. ' .*.••• As to the Declaration .of London, thopublication of the rules had created .very, grave apprehension in the minds of- the commercial public of this country, While most of them would be glad to see 'international prize courts substituted for national cburts, they would like to have a say in framing the rules and constitution of such a body, for "we are not -liko other countries. We are an island, and seaborne supplies are essential for our food." Lord'Lansdowno spoko with grave emphasis on tho reciprocity agreement. "While the commercial relations between, our colonies and other countries are progressing, those between ourselves and our colonics are standing still.' Wo are now informed that Canada, after knocking in vain at our door, .is going to enter into a commercial agreement with the United States: ' • - "I foresee a considerable diminution in tho opportunities for preference within the' British Empire. Tho new policy must be '- of ; an • infinitely -far-reaching cliar"ls tho .VlH>'!i 13i 1101o'-'-'Tie«roihti'ddticed and hustled through.-Parliament without the alteration of a'lino or a-word? Is; it conceivable that we aro now going lo revert to a condition of war a outr<mee? If the preamblo is honest it means that no settlement is possible until the quev tiori'-'of-tho reform" of the House of' Lords has been.-, dealt. with. .Thus it, followsinexorably that this is a slop-gap Bill,' and ought to 'M " treated as "such. -'Ju, our coming discussion I (rust that the spirit,of the Conference will nrevail, anl not tlio spirit of the hustings.- Otherwise you may get what is described as a settlement, but it will settl<S"'iiothing." • Lord' Crewe said that the last election was fought on the constitutional question, ''and I regard it as a remarkable expression of confidence- that wo wero able to- hold our own. Lord Lansdowne wants .to roplace this House with a tescelafed'pavement.. His proposals are infinitely more fjr-reaching than anything we have suggested." On .'the '■ D<vlaration of London' Lord Crewe said : "It is to bo discussed at . tho Imperial - Coufprence,, .and . there willbe opportunity for- , di«c'nsSiori -in'''brith" -HoUses* of Parlinmerit~b?fonr"thtf "Declaration - is ratified." In a reference to the reciprocity agreement,' he .said: "I havo an unbounded faith in 'tho-loyaltv of the Dominion, 1 and I do "not see anything in this reciprocity arrangement, even supposing it comes into force in the, form published, which will have any effect in weakening tho ties between us'and Canada." Lord Crewe also promised that nnvment of -M.P.'s and the Osborne judgment would be considered this session. The Address was agreed to.