NEW PARLIAMENT OPENS

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21648, 5 December 1935, Page 11

NEW PARLIAMENT OPENS

THE KING'S SPEECH FIDELITY TO LEAGUE AND REARMAMENT BIG DOMESTIC PROGRAMME (BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.) (Received December 4, 7.5 p.m.) RUGBY, December 3. The new Parliament was opened to-day in the absence of his Majesty, and the King's speech was read on his behalf by the Lord Chancellor (Lord Hailsham) in the House of Lords. The speech began with the words, "I regret that I am not addressing you in person today," and went on:— "My relations with foreign powers continue to be friendly. My Government's foreign policy will, as heretofore, be based on firm support of the League of Nations. It will remain prepared to fulfil, in , cooperation with the other members of the the obligations of the covenant. In particular, it is determined .to use at all times the full weight of its influence for the preservation of peace. In pursuance of these obligations, my Government felt compelled to adopt, in co-opera-tion with some 50 other states and members of the league, certain measures of an economic and financial nature in regard to Italy. At the same time it will continue to exert its influence in favour of peace acceptable to the three parties in the dispute, namely Italy, Ethiopia and the League of Nations. "My Government has issued invitations to. the Governments of other countries, which were parties to the Washington and London Naval Treaties, to attend a conference in London this month, with a view to the conclusion of a new international treaty for the limitation of naval armament. I have learned with satisfaction that all the invitations to this conference have been accepted, and I trust that its labours will be crowned with success."

Stronger Defences The speech proceeded: "The fulfilment of our international obligations under the covenant, no less than the adequate safeguarding of my Empire, makes it urgently necessary that deficiencies in my defence forces should be made good. My Ministers will, in due course, lay before you their proposals, which will be limited to the minimum required for these two purposes." Domestic matters were then dealt with, and the speech noted that the policy of the Ministers, while continuing to foster a general recovery of trade, industry, and agriculture, would pay special regard to those areas m which the burden of unemployment was greatest, and to the development of any measures likely to be advantageous to them. It added that the problem of securing improved conditions in the coalmining industry was receiving the anxious consideration of Ministers, and active steps in contemplation to this end included proposals for the co-ordination of the "selling arrangements of the coal industry, the unification of coal royalties, and a review of the provisions for the safety of the workers in the mines in the light of modern scientific knowledge.

Other measures proposed include proposals for making improved arrangements for assistance to the unemployed, and for the insurance of agricultural workers against unemployment; the introduction of a bill to authorise a guarantee by the State of a loan to be raised for the purpose of enabling railway companies to carry out special developments; a measure for promoting the further development of ciyil air communications, both in this country and throughout the Empire; and proposals for the substantial development of the educational services of the country and for the raising of the school age. Surplus production in the cotton industry, was another problem to be attacked. Improvements in physical, medical, and educational services, slum clearance, an active rehousing policy, and a maternity service, including salaried midwives were part of the campaign for social progress. After hearing the King's Speech and after Parliament reassembled later, the Address-in-Reply to the speech, in which the Government programme for the coming season was set out, was debated.

Rugby Blue's Speech Mr W. W. Wakefield, the Rugby Blue, made a bright speech when he moved the Address-in-Reply. He said he was still raw, and begged forbearance if he crossed the white line. He emphasised the aviation passage in the King's speech, and alluding to the custom since Guy Fawlces's plot, said the cellars of the House of Commons might be searched, but the real threat was from the clouds. Sir Charles Barrie (Conservative) the seconder, in a humorous speech, congratulated Mr Wakefield on his fine run. The leader of the Opposition, Mr C. R. Attlee said it was curious that the same phrase in the speech covered the aggressor state and those which were fulfilling the covenant, and he demanded that the House be given a full account of the whole procedings in the dispute between Italy and Abyssinia. The Prime Minister, Mr Stanley Baldwin, who followed, said he desired the fullest discussion of a very difficult foreign situation. He regretted that the Foreign Secretary, Sir Samuel Hoare, was confined to his house, but he hoped that he would attend to-morrow or the next day, and that arrangements could be made 1 for such a discussion. In these circumstances, he would not speak at length. The league was indeed on trial, and if it could bring this terrible dispute to an end by the method it had employed, he was sure that everyone in Europe who was a lover of peace, would be grateful and thankful to see it. If, on the other nand, any statesman brought this country into war by the neglect of anything that he could with honour do iin conjunction with the other memibers of the league, his name would 'very properly be held in execra-

tion. It was quite true that the sanctity of treaties must be upheld, but that did not mean that any given treaty was incapable of amendment, or that it stood in its present form for all time. Modification of Treaties "Modification of a treaty is one thing," said Mr Baldwin, "and repudiation is another. It is unilateral repudiation that means the rule of force and not modification by agreement. It is the tearing up of a treaty that modern Europe is determined, if it can, to prevent Events this year have brought that out clearly, because there has been declared as an aggressor a country with whom all the countries in Europe are on terms of friendship. Notwithstanding that friendship, all those nations have agreed to participate in economic sanctions, which have been employed so far, and in considering the further use of those sanctions in future. "It has sometimes been said that this country has been putting itself too much into the foreground. This country has to play its part, and play its part ,with the other countries. A country with its influence had to shoulder its responsibilities, and when the time came had to speak out." Referring to home affairs, Mr Baldwin said the Government's industrial policy of the last four years had been based on attempting to create conditions of confidence, protected by moderate tariffs, in which industry could thrive. Referring to the coal question, he said it had been decided to bring in, at an early date, a bill for ths unification of mining royalties as an essential preliminary to the work that lay ahead, and as part of the policy to assist the trade and advance the steps already voluntarily taken in some districts, for coordination. The Government hoped further in the present session, to pass a bill to extend employment insurance, so that that benefit might be available for agricultural workers in the winter of next year; , DEBATE IN LORDS (Received December 4, 7.5 p.m.) LONDON, December 3. In the House of Lords the young Lord Birkenhead moved the Ad-dress-in-Reply. Facially he resembles his father, but he is slim and not so tall. He spoke with some hesitation. . Lord Snell, leader of the Opposition, said the Labour party had fewer than 12 effective members in the House of Lords, though it represented 8,000,000 votes outside.