Sitting of 23 June 1897

Preamble
The House met a Quarter after Two of the clock, there being a large attendance of Members.
QUEEN'S DIAMOND JUBILEE.
House Adjourned at Twenty Minutes after Four o'Clock.
QUEEN'S DIAMOND JUBILEE.
  ADDRESS TO HER MAJESTY.
  THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,): I beg to notify that Her Majesty has been graciously pleased to appoint Half-past Three o'clock for receiving the Address voted on Monday last to Her Gracious Majesty. [Cheers.]

  ITALIAN PARLIAMENT AND PEOPLE.
  *MR. SPEAKER: I have to report to the House that I have this day received from the Italian Ambassador in London a letter, dated June 23, of which the following is a translation: —
  "To the Speaker of the House of Commons. "23 June 1897.
  "Sir,
  "The Government of His Majesty the King directs me to communicate to you the enclosed telegram, which contains the proceedings taken in the Chamber of Deputies to demonstrate the lively share which the Italian Parliament and Nation take in the manifestation of the feelings entertained by this great people for its great Sovereign.
  "In performing this pleasing duty I beg your Excellency to accept the assurance of my high consideration.—GENERAL. A. FERRERO, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Italy.
  [Enclosure.]
  Telegram, dated 22nd June, from the Marquis Visconti Venosta, Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Kingdom of Italy, to the Italian Ambassador in London.
  In accordance with the desire of the Chamber of Deputies, I beg your Excellency to be good enough to forward to the Speaker of the House of Commons without delay the following extract from the proceedings of their Sitting of yesterday:—
  The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Sonnino is authorised to speak.
  SYDNEY SONNINO: Hon. Colleagues, To-day the British Nation rejoices, celebrating in the Mother Country and in the

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  Colonies scattered in all the corners of the earth the 60th anniversary of the Accession to the Throne of the Gracious Queen, Victoria.
  I am certain that I express the feelings of the whole House, without distinction of party, when I ask our President, upon this solemn occasion, to make himself the interpreter to the Speaker of the House of Commons of the warm wishes of this Assembly for the long and prosperous continuance of that glorious reign, and to give assurance of the share which the Italian people take in the events which cause the rejoicings of the great English people. the teacher of Liberty, of Tolerance, and Civil and Ordered Progress. [Applause.]
  BRIN, the Minister of Marine, demanded and obtained leave to speak.
  BRIN: I cannot do otherwise than express in the name of the Government the most lively approbation of the proposal of the Hon. Sonnino that our President should express to the President of the English House of Commons the warm wishes which we, in interpreting the desire of all Italians, express for the happiness and prosperity of the reign of Queen Victoria, who with so much success and glory has guided the destinies of that great and free England, which has ever been the friend of Italy, and for which our country entertains the like feelings of sympathy and friendship.
  IMBRIANI POVIRO: In associating myself with this proposal I send my respectful greeting to her who finds herself placed at the head of a free people, which has always and in every direction sought to cultivate liberty according to justice.
  The PRESIDENT: I accept very heartily the directions of the House, and will make it my duty to carry them out."

  ARGENTINE REPUBLIC.
  MR. SPEAKERacquainted the House that he had received the following communication from the President of the Senate of the Argentine Republic: —
  "Telegram from Senor Julio a Roca, President of the Senate of the Argentine Republic, to the President of the House of Commons, handed in at Buenos Ayres at 4.15 p.m. on the 22nd June.
  "I have the satisfaction of communicating to your. Excellency that the Senate of the Argentine Nation has this day risen from its Session in homage to the English people and to Her Majesty, the honoured Queen and Empress Victoria."
  THE FIRST LORD OF TILE TREASURY: It will be unnecessary, I think, to make any formal Motion with regard to placing the text of these courteous letters on the Order Paper of the House. That, I think, will be done in due course.
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  Nor is any formal Motion necessary requesting you, Sir, to return suitable answers to these gracious communications, for I understand that that will be done without any further action on the part of the House. [Cheers.]
  SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT, who was received with cheers: I am sure that every party in this House will associate itself with the satisfaction which has been given by these communications from that great historic nation, in the development of whose liberties England took so large a part, and also the South American Republic, whom she also aided in the development of its liberties. As the right hon. Gentleman has said, I am quite sure that these communications will receive sympathetic answers. [Loud cheers.]
  At Twenty Minutes before Three o'clock Mr. SPEAKER left the Chair. Preceded by the Serjeant-at-Arms (Mr. Erskine) carrying the Mace, attended by the Clerk of the House (Sir Reginald Palgrave), his private Secretary (Mr. Edward Gully), and his Chaplain (the Rev. Canon Wilberforce), Mr. Speaker proceeded by way of St. Stephen's Hall and Westminster Hall to New Palace Yard, where he entered his coach, and drove to Buckingham Palace, accompanied by Privy Councillors and hon. Members, nearly 500 in number, some on foot and others in carriages.
  At a Quarter after Four o'clock Mr. SPEAKER returned, and having resumed the Chair, said: I have to acquaint the House that this House has this day presented to Her Majesty an Address, to which Her Majesty has been graciously pleased to make the following reply:—
  "I thank you for your loyal and dutiful Address. I have been deeply touched by the numerous manifestations of loyalty and affection to my Throne on the occasion of the completion of the 60th year of my reign, and I am sincerely gratified by the warmth with which you associate yourselves with them."
  Whereupon Mr. SPEAKER, in pursuance of the Order of the House of 21st June, adjourned the House without Question put till To-morrow.

QUEEN'S DIAMOND JUBILEE.

  ADDRESS TO HER MAJESTY.
  The House met at Two of the Clock.
  TIIE LORD CHANCELLOR (Lord HALSBURY), on behalf of the Lord Steward, reported that Her Majesty had appointed this day, at a Quarter past Three o'clock, to receive the Address of this House at Buckingham Palace.
  THE LORD CHANCELLOR: At the request of my noble Friend at the head of the Government, I have to move that this House at its rising do adjourn until Tuesday next.
  Motion agreed to.
  House adjourned during pleasure.
  House resumed at a Quarter before Three o'clock, and was immediately adjourned to Tuesday next, at a Quarter past Four o'clock.
  Their Lordships forthwith proceeded to Buckingham Palace to present the Address of Monday last. The Lord Chancellor was preceded by the Ser-jeant-at-Arms (Sir Wellington Chetwynd-Talbot) carrying the mace, and by the Purse-Bearer, and was attended by Sir Michael Biddulph, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod. The procession passed behind the Throne, by way of the Princes Chamber to the Peers' entrance in Old Palace Yard. The Lord Chancellor entered his State carriage, accompanied by the Serjeant-at-Arms, Mr. Graham, C.B. (Clerk of Parliaments), and by his private Secretaries, and drove to Buckingham Palace, the Peers following in private carriages.