§ Mr. SPEAKERI have to acquaint the House that this House has this day attended His Majesty in the House of Peers, and His Majesty was pleased to make a most Gracious Speech to both Houses of Parliament, of which, for greater accuracy, I have obtained a copy, which is as followeth:
§ My Lords and Members of the House of Commons,
§ A Constitution for the Irish Free State having been passed by the House of the Parliament established under the Irish Free State (Agreement) Act of last Session sitting as a Constituent Assembly, and it being required by the terms of that Act that the Constitution should come into force by the sixth day of December next, I have summoned you to meet in order that the legislation necessary to give effect to that Constitution and to make the provisions consequential on the establishment of the Irish Free State may be at once submitted for your approval.
§ Members of the House of Commons,
§ Estimates for the public service will be laid before you.
§ My Lords and Members of the House of Commons,
§ The state of trade and employment continues to cause Me deep concern. The ameliorative measures prepared by My late Government are being examined afresh, and you will be asked to make provision for their continuance and extension and to guarantee a loan in accordance with the League of Nations scheme for the restoration of Austria.
§ Negotiations for the settlement of difficulties in the Near East are proceeding, and it is My hope that, at the conference at Lausanne the efforts of My Ministers, acting in whole-hearted co-operation with the representatives of our Allies, may result in the re-establishment of peace and the restoration of security to the inhabitants of the regions which have recently been the scene of so much suffering.
§ And I pray that the blessing of Almighty God may rest upon your deliberations.