THE KING'S SPEECH.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLI, Issue 9543, 23 June 1921, Page 5

THE KING'S SPEECH.

AN APPEAL TO IRISHMEN

PLEA FOR SETTLEMENT.

RECONCILIATION OF DIFFERENCES.

(Received June 28, 9.15 a.m.) LONDON, June 22. The King opened the Northern Irish Parliament. Cheering multitudes welcomed him.

In his speech he declared he could not allow a deputy to perform the ceremony and therefore he came m person as the head of the Empire to inaugurate the -Parliament on Irish son. He hoped it would become an instrument of happiness and good government. Everything which touched Ireland found an echo m the remotest parts of the Empire. Few things were more earnestly desired throughout the English-speaking world than a satisfactory solution of the age-long Irish problem. "No wish is nearer to my own heart than that every Irishman of whatever creed, wherever his home, should loyally co-operate with the free communities on which the Empire is' 'based," he said. "The eyes of the wimble Empire are on Ireland to-day. I am emboldened to look beyond the sorrow and anxiety which has clouded my late vision of Irish affairs, and I speak from a full heart when I pray that my coming may prove the first step towards the end of strife among my people. In that hope I appeal to all irishmen to pause and stretch out the hand of forbearance and conciliation, to forgive and forget, and join m making for the land they love a. new era of peace and goodwill." His Majesty said he hoped Southern Ireland would soon have a parallel ceremony.. The King and Queen have re-em-barked. They had a magnificent send-off.