HC Deb 22 December 1916 vol 88 cc1869-70
Mr. SPEAKER

I have further to acquaint the House that the Lord High Chancellor, being one of the High Commissioners, delivered His Majesty's Most Gracious Speech to both Houses of Parliament, in pursuance of His Majesty's Command, as followeth: —

My Lords, and Gentlemen,

Throughout the months that have elapsed since I last addressed you My Navy and Army, in conjunction with those of our gallant and faithful Allies, have, by their unceasing vigilance and indomitable valour, justified the high trust I placed in them. I am confident that, however long the struggle, their efforts, supported by the inflexible determination of all My subjects throughout the Empire, will finally achieve the victorious consummation of those aims for which I entered into war. My Government has been reconstructed with the sole object of furthering those aims unaltered and unimpaired.

Gentlemen of the House of Commons,

I thank you for the unstinted liberality with which you continue to provide for the burdens of the War.

My Lords, and Gentlemen,

The vigorous prosecution of the War must be our single endeavour until we have vindicated the rights so ruthlessly violated by our enemies and established the security of Europe on a sure foundation.

In this sacred cause I am assured of the united support of all My peoples, and I pray that Almighty God may give us His blessing.

Then a Commission for proroguing the Parliament was read in the House of Lords.

After which the Lord Chancellor said:

MY LORDS, AND GENTLEMEN,—By virtue of His Majesty's Commission, under the Great Seal, to us and other Lords directed, and now read, we do, in His Majesty's Name and in obedience to his Commands, prorogue this Parliament to Wednesday, the Seventh day of February, One thousand nine hundred and seventeen, to be then here holden; and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Wednesday, the Seventh day of February, One thousand nine hundred and seventeen.

End of the Sixth Session (Opened Tuesday, 15th February, 1916) of the Thirtieth Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, in the seventh year of the Reign of His Majesty King George V.