HL Deb 21 December 1908 vol 198 cc2347-51

And afterwards His Majesty's Most Gracious Speech was delivered to both Houses of Parliament by the Lord Chancellor (in pursuance of His Majesty's Commands) as followeth—

My Lords, and Gentlemen,

I was much gratified at receiving last May an official visit from the President of the French Republic on the occasion of the Franco-British Exhibition in London. The reception given to M. Fallières by the citizens of London afforded a renewed proof of the cordial feelings entertained in this country towards the French nation.

The recent visit of the King and Queen of Sweden gave great pleasure to the Queen and myself, and will confirm the traditions of friendship which happily exist between the two countries.

My relations with foreign Powers continue to be friendly.

During the past year several important Agreements with foreign Governments have been concluded, which, by eliminating causes of contention, must tend to the consolidation of peace.

Amongst these may be mentioned Treaties with the United States of America for general arbitration, and for regulating certain questions between the United States of America and the Dominion of Canada; and the Agreement for the maintenance of the existing territorial status in the regions bordering on the North Sea.

A Convention has been signed by the Representatives of my Government and of the other States, parties to the International Union for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, consolidating and revising the Berne Convention and the Additional Act of Paris. The amended Convention, which will need legislation to give effect to it, will be examined by a Committee before I decide upon its ratification. Papers will be laid before you.

Certain events have recently occurred calculated to disturb the provisions of the Treaty of Berlin in the Balkan peninsula; but there is reason to hope that wise and conciliatory counsels will prevail, and that an amicable settlement will be reached with the consent of the Powers who are parties to the Treaty.

Since I last addressed you, the Belgian Government have notified the assumption by Belgium of the Sovereignty of the Independent State of the Congo. My Government are at present discussing with the Government of Belgium the conditions by which the provisions of the Treaties affecting the territory in question will be safeguarded, when the transfer has been recognised.

I have appointed Commissioners to attend the International Conference, which is to meet at Shanghai in February, to investigate the opium trade and opium habit in the Far East, and to offer suggestions for measures which the Powers concerned may adopt for the gradual suppression of the cultivation, traffic, and use of opium within their Eastern possessions, with a view to assisting China in her purpose of eradicating the opium trade in the Chinese Empire.

A Conference of the principal Naval Powers is at present sitting in London, on the invitation of my Government, with a view to declaring and formulating by common argeement such rules on certain questions affecting the conduct of naval warfare as will, it is hoped, command general assent.

The raids of certain tribes on the North-West Frontier of India rendered military operations necessary for the protection of my subjects and the punishment of the offenders. These operations were skilfully devised and successfully conducted by all concerned.

The famine that unhappily prevailed over parts of India was met by the people with great courage and self-reliance, and the efforts of my officers to relieve suffering and restore prosperity were effective and unremitting.

I deeply regret that the internal tranquillity of parts of my Indian Dominions has been disturbed by a conspiracy of evil-disposed persons against the lives of my officers and the continuance of British rule. But the actions of these persons, while they have necessitated deterrent legislation of an exceptional nature for the protection of life and property and the maintenance of order, have also called forth in all parts of India demonstrations of loyalty to my person and my Government. My Government have, therefore, felt justified in pressing forward the measures that have long been under their consideration for enlarging the share of the Indian peoples in the administration of the country. These measures have been, laid before you, and I earnestly hope that they will be received in the spirit of mutual trust and goodwill in which they are proposed.

In the month of July my Son, the Prince of Wales, acting as my representative, paid a visit to the Dominion of Canada, and took part in the interesting celebrations which had been arranged under the auspices of the Governor-General to commemorate the founding of the city of Quebec by Samuel de Champlain. The affectionate reception given to my Son by all classes of my Canadian subjects touched me deeply, and I learned from him with great satisfaction of the loyalty and enthusiasm everywhere displayed upon that unique and historic occasion.

The visit of the American Fleet to Australasian waters evoked warm feelings of cordiality in my Dominions in that quarter of the globe, and was a source of gratification to myself and to my Government.

The important Convention of Statesmen formed to discuss proposals for the closer union of my South African Dominions still continues its deliberations. I am well assured that its labours will conduce to the abiding prosperity of the people of South Africa.

Gentlemen of the House of Commons,

I thank you for the provision which you have made for the services of the year.

My Lords, and Gentlemen,

The Navy has been maintained in a high state of efficiency, and steady progress continues to be made with the reorganisation of the Military Forces of the Crown in accordance with the principles already sanctioned by Parliament.

It was with much satisfaction that I gave my assent to a measure for securing better provision for necessitous old age.

An Act has been passed establishing in Ireland two Universities, to be called respectively the Queen's University of Belfast, and the National University of Ireland. I trust that both seats of learning may play an important and honourable part in the future education of the country.

I have assented to a measure for educational reform in Scotland which confers new powers of control over young persons up to the age of seventeen, improves the position of the teacher, and consolidates all Scottish funds available for the promotion of education, and simplifies their administration.

I regret that, in regard to the controversies connected with the subjects of licensing and national education in England, notwithstanding the time and labour which have been given to their consideration, no settlement has been attained.

Much-needed provision has been made for affording judicial assistance to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council and to the Court of Appeal in England.

For the purpose of improving the conditions of labour, I have given my assent to a measure to limit the daily hours worked below ground by the men and boys employed in coal mines.

A measure has been passed largely extending, in a variety of directions, the law for the protection of children from cruelty danger, and neglect, and reforming the methods for dealing with juvenile offenders.

I have sanctioned an Act for the Prevention of Crime, through provision for the reformation of young offenders in Borstal Intsitutions, and through the detention, under new regulations, of habitual criminals.

My assent has been given to a measure for the improvement and better administration of the Port of London, which closes a long period of uncertainty detrimental to the commerce and shipping of the capital, and which will, I trust, afford a just and comprehensive settlement of this intricate and important question.

A large number of other measures of public utility have been added to the Statute-book, and amongst them several Acts of unusual scope and comprehensiveness for consolidating existing enactments in various branches of the law.

I thank you for the zeal which has characterised your protracted and arduous labours, and I pray that they may be rewarded by the blessing of Almighty God.

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 Tuesday the Sixteenth day of February One thousand nine hundred and nine, to be then here holden; and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Tuesday the Sixteenth day of February One thousand nine hundred and nine.