§ Mr. SPEAKERI 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 Members of the House of Commons,
§ The Session of Parliament which closes to-day has been marked by events of great importance to the welfare of the British Empire and to the peace of the world. It is not yet possible to say that peace is firmly established in Europe and it must be long before the world can recover from the strain and sacrifice of the War; but good progress has been made towards the solution of the most critical problems of home and foreign affairs.
§ I have welcomed with deep satisfaction the Prime Ministers of the Dominions and the Representatives of India, who have been in Conference with My Advisers here. They had questions of great moment to discuss in common and grave decisions to make. Their presence for that purpose has been invaluable, and I trust that it may be found possible to arrange regular meetings of a like character for the further exchange of views and the discussion of common interests.
§ Their deliberations on foreign policy dealt in particular with the problems of the Pacific and Far East and with the questions arising out of the Empire's obligations under the Treaty of Versailles and the other Treaties of Peace. I am happy to know that on all these issues My Governments here and oversea are in close accord.
§ The Conference gave serious attention to the defence of the Empire and to the maintenance of an adequate measure of sea-power. It was unanimously decided that the naval strength of the Empire should be equal to that of any other Power.
744§ As a result of the proposals made by the Allied Powers to Germany last May and accepted by her, satisfactory progress has been made by the German Government in the execution of their financial and disarmament obligations under the Treaty of Versailles.
§ A serious rising of the Poles in Upper Silesia led to the British troops, which had been withdrawn in April, being sent back, and after difficult and anxious negotiations the insurrection was overcome, and the authority of the International Commission was re-established.
§ The insurrection unfortunately delayed the negotiations for a settlement of the frontier, and at a meeting of the Allied and Associated Powers in Paris in August last, it was decided to invite the League of Nations to examine the whole question and to make recommendations for a settlement.
§ Those recommendations have recently been received, and steps are being taken to give effect to them. There is reason to hope that they will be loyally carried out by the two parties principally concerned, and that a peaceful and honourable settlement will result.
§ Peace has been definitely established between the Allied Powers and Hungary. The Treaty signed at Trianon on the 4th June, 1920, having been ratified by the British Empire, France, Italy, Japan, Belgium, Czecho-Slovakia, Serbia, Rumania, Siam, and Hungary, the ratifications were deposited at the French Ministry for Foreign Affairs on the 26th July last.
§ The efforts, made by My Government at the Allied Conference in March and renewed in June, to establish peace in the Near East were in each case rendered fruitless by the renewed outbreak of hostilities between the Greek and Turkish, forces in Anatolia. It is my earnest desire to see these hostilities followed by an early and just peace, and My Government are prepared, in conjunction with their Allies, to take the first opportunity of furthering this end.
§ I have followed with great satisfaction the steps taken by the President of the United States to promote the reduction of expenditure on armaments, an object which commands the fullest sympathy of My Government.
745§ It was in this spirit that My Government gladly accepted the invitation extended by the United States Government to a Conference on Disarmament about to be held at Washington. It is My earnest hope that the labours of the Conference will be crowned with success.
§ Negotiations have for some time been in progress, but have not yet reached a conclusion, between My Government and a delegation nominated by His Highness the Sultan of Egypt with a view to determine the future relationship of that country with Great Britain.
§ Progress continues to be made in the reduction of expenditure in Iraq in accordance with the policy which has been explained in the House.
§ My son, the Prince of Wales, has embarked upon his Eastern voyage, and within a few days will land for the first time on Indian soil. I pray that his visit may still further strengthen the ties of affection which for so long have linked My house with the Princes and peoples of India. Upon the conclusion of his Indian tour he will proceed on a visit to the great and friendly Empire of Japan.
§ Members of the House of Commons,
§ I thank you for the provision for the public Service. Although trade and commerce have been undergoing a period of unexampled depression, I learn with satisfaction that it is nevertheless anticipated that, while the estimated surplus for redemption of debt will not be realised, the financial year will end without a deficit on the Budget.
§ Our debts, however, are great, our taxation heavy and burdensome to industry, and revenue cannot be maintained on the scale of the last three years. It is accordingly of vital importance to the financial stability of the country that expenditure should be still further restricted in every department of life, both public and private. The Government will continue to take advantage of every possible means to achieve this essential object in the field of public expenditure, and I confidently rely upon My people in their own practice to support the efforts of My Ministers.
746§ My Lords and Members of the House of Commons,
§ The situation in Ireland still causes Me great anxiety. I earnestly exhort the leaders of all parties in Ireland, and all those in, whose hands lies the power to influence the negotiations and discussions now proceeding, to exercise patience and moderation with the object of establishing friendship and loyal cooperation between My people of that country. It is My firm belief, as it is My earnest prayer, that with forbearance and goodwill, and with an honest resolve to tread the paths of oblivion and forgiveness, an enduring peace will finally be achieved.
§ The past summer has been notable for the occurrence of the most serious industrial conflict which has ever menaced the prosperity of the Realm. I take pride in the calm and serene spirit with which the trials of the coal stoppage were met by My people, and the freedom from strife and violence which characterised its course.
§ This dispute unhappily aggravated the adverse effect of the sudden worldwide trade depression, which has inflicted upon the industries of this country the most grievous experience in their history.
§ My Ministers have viewed with grave concern the continuance of the wide-spread unemployment which has attended the cessation of trade. Accordingly you have within the past few weeks given close and detailed consideration to this problem. Measures have received My assent designed, first, to encourage the revival of industry by facilitating the provision of capital for public undertakings and by assisting export trade, and, secondly, directly to provide employment on an extended scale by aiding local authorities and others to carry out various forms of beneficial works. Finally, in addition to the provision made by the Acts which you have already passed relating to Unemployment Insurance, a Measure has been framed to assist in mitigating the sufferings of those who remain unemployed, by the provision, out of moneys contributed by employers, employed and the State, of grants to wives and dependent children.
747§ The peaceful settlement of many difficult disputes by mutual negotiation between employers and workpeople, together with some indications of a revival of trade, encourage My hope that the worst may be over and that the state of employment may show from now onwards a steady, if slow, improvement. But the position is still full of anxiety, and My Ministers will continue to devote to this problem their vigilant care.
§ It is not, however, so much to Acts of Parliament as to the proved good sense of employers and operatives, working together for the promotion of their common interests, that I look for the restoration of trade prosperity.
§ My assent has also been given to Measures for the reorganisation of the railways and for the safeguarding of industry, and an Act for the Reform of the Licensing Laws has been passed with a universal and gratifying measure of agreement. But the legislation of the Session has been dominated by the difficult financial condition of the time. The imperative need for the avoidance of all fresh burdens and for the further curtailment of expenditure has required the modification of some Measures already passed and the postponement to happier times of the completion of other reforms.
748§ I pray that the blessing of Almighty God may rest upon your labours.
§ Then a Commission for proroguing the Parliament was read in. the House of Lords.
§ After which the LORD CHANCELLOR said:
§ MY LORDS AND MEMBERS,—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 Monday, the thirtieth day of January, one thousand nine hundred and twenty-two, to be then here holden; and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Monday, the thirtieth day of January, one thousand nine hundred and twenty-two.
§ End of the Third Session (opened, Tuesday, 15th February, 1921) of the Thirty-first Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, in the twelfth year of the Reign of His Majesty King George the Fifth.