§ And afterwards His Majesty's Most Gracious Speech was delivered to both Houses of Parliament by the Lord High Chancellor (in pursuance of His Majesty's Command) as followeth:—
§ "My Lord and Gentlemen,
§ "My relations with Foreign Powers continue to be of a satisfactory character. I have paid visits to the King of Denmark at Copenhagen and to the German Emperor at Kiel. My reception was in each case of the most cordial description.
§ "Agreements have been entered into between My Government and that of the French Republic for the settlement of a series of questions involving the interests. of both countries in different parts of the world. These agreements will not only be advantageous in themselves to all concerned, but will have the effect of materially strengthening the ties of friendship which now so happily unite My subjects and the citizens of the French Republic.
§ "Agreements for referring certain classes of questions to Arbitration have been concluded between My Government and the Governments of Italy, Spain, and Germany.
549§ "The King of Italy has pronounced his Arbitral Award with regard to the Boundary between My Colony of British Guiana and the United States of Brazil, with the result that a long-standing cause of difficulty between the Colony and the neighbouring Republic has been satisfactorily removed. Arrangements will be made at once for putting the Award into effect.
§ "The military operations in Somaliland have ended in the infliction of a severe defeat upon the Mullah's forces, and, with the exception of a temporary garrison to cover the work of organising the tribes with a view to their own defence, My troops and those of the Emperor Menelek, who were acting in co-operation with them, have been withdrawn.
§ "Hostilities are, I regret to say, still in progress between Russia and Japan. Upon the outbreak of the war, I issued a Proclamation declaring My neutrality, and enjoining upon all My people the strict observance thereof. Important questions involving the treatment of neutral commerce at the hands of belligerents have arisen in connection with these operations. The issues involved, which are of the gravest moment to the trade of My Empire, will, I trust, be amicably settled, and without prejudice to the vast commercial interests of this Country. My Government will energetically support My subjects in the exercise of the rights recognised by international law as belonging to neutrals.
§ "The scheme for the reorganisation of the Macedonian gendarmerie has been put into operation, and the Foreign Officers appointed by the Powers are now employed in the areas assigned to them. Their efforts, under the able direction of General de Giorgis Pasha, promise satisfactory results. A scheme for the reform of the tithe system has been elaborated by the Civil Agents, and has been applied experimentally in certain districts.
§ "On the advice of My Government, I have decided to sanction the introduction of an elective element into the Legislative Council of the Transvaal, and I trust that all classes of My subjects in that Colony will unite in rendering this step in the direction of ultimate self-government conducive to the welfare and development of this part of My Dominions.
550§ "The political mission which, with the concurrence of the Chinese Government, I found it necessary to dispatch into Tibetan territory, in order to secure the due observance of the Convention of 1890 relating to Sikkim and Tibet, has encountered some resistance in its advance. Its safe arrival at Lhasa affords Me the greatest satisfaction, and reflects the highest credit on the officers and men composing the small force employed. I trust that, by conference with the Tibetan authorities, in conjunction with the Chinese representative at Lhasa, terms may be arranged which will facilitate trade and put an end to the difficulty and friction which have arisen on the northern frontier of My Indian Empire.
§ "Gentlemen of the House of Commons,
§ "I thank you for the satisfactory provision which you made for the requirements of the public service.
§ "My Lords and Gentlemen,
§ "I have been glad to note the attention which you have given to the important questions affecting the reorganisation of My Army and its central administration. I trust that these reforms will conduce to the defensive strength of My Empire.
§ "The enactments contained in the measure for reducing the number of existing licences for the sale of intoxicating liquors, and for regulating new grants, constitute a sensible improvement of the present law, and, while calculated to further the cause of temperance and public order, avoid any injustice to those interests which have grown up under the prevailing system.
§ "My assent has been given to a Bill for securing that the educational reforms embodied in the Act of 1902 shall be impartially applied for the benefit of all children attending public elementary schools in England and Wales.
§ "A measure has been passed to give approval to the arrangements which are included in the Convention which I have entered into with the Government of the French Republic.
§ "A Bill designed to facilitate the earlier closing of shops throughout the 551 United Kingdom has received My assent.
§ "In bidding you farewell, I pray that the blessing of Providence may rest upon all your labours."
§ Then a Commission for proroguing the Parliament was read.
§ 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 Thursday the Third day of November next, to be then here holden; and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Thursday the Third day of November next."