PROROGATION.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 149, 23 December 1908, Page 7

PROROGATION.

THE KING'S SPEECH. LEADING QUESTIONS REVIEWED. THE BALKANS. HOPES FOR AN AMICABLE SETTLEMENT. 3y Telegraph.— Press Association.— Copyright. LONDON, 22nd December. The prorogation of Parliament has taken place. His Majesty's Speech, which was read in tho House of Lords by the Lord High Chancellor, Lord 1 Loreburn, and in the House of Commons by the Speaker, Mr. J. W. Lowther, was probably the longest on record. In it allusion was made to the visit to England of President Fallieres and of the King and Queen of Sweden. The Speech also referred to the fact that arbitration treaties which had been negotiated with various foreign States settling the question of the protection of literary and artistic works, had not yet been ratified. Regarding the situation in the Balkans, his Majesty declared that the>-e was reason to, hope that wise and conciliatory counsels would lead to an amicable settlement with the consent of the parties to the Treaty of Berlin. In passing mention was made of the negctiations with Belgium relating to the Congo. After reviewing tho visit of the Prince of Wales to Canada, his Majesty referred to the tour of the American fleet, sa\ ing that the latter evoked warm feelings of cordiality in Australasia, and was a source of gratification to himself and to the Government. He was, he declared, well assured that the labour of the important convsnticn of statesmen on the question of closer union would conduce to the. abiding prosperity of South Africa. In conclusion, the Speech recapitulated the legislation of the session, and expressed regret that no settlement had been arrived at over the Licensing Bill and the Education Bill.