THE KING’S SPEECH

Evening Star, Issue 18812, 10 December 1924, Page 5

THE KING’S SPEECH

PRINCE TO VISIT ARGENTINA. GOVERNMENT’S PROPOSALS OUTLINED. Frees Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, December 9. (Received December 10, at 9.55 a.m.) The King’s Speech states that the Government proposes to proceed with the plans already made for enlarging the naval base at Singapore. His Majesty says he has no doubt that the happy results of the Prince of Wales’s previous visits to the dominions will bo repeated in South Africa during the spring of 1925. The Prince of Wales will visit the Argentine in 1925 in response to an invitation from tho President and Government there.

The Imperial and dominions’ Governments had begun to examine tho Disarmament Protocol. The Government was unable to recommend consideration of tho recent AngloRussian treaties. Normal intercourse between tho two countries would be possible by the strict fulfilment of the conditions of friendly international intercourse which had repeatedly been submitted to tho Soviet Government,

The Government’s guiding principle would ho the closest co-operation with the dominions’ and Indian Governments. The Government would steadfastly adhere to the encouragement of Empire settlement, and mutual trade proposals would be submitted granting further preference to Empire imports. A Bill would he introduced safeguarding industries. Provision would ho made for the alleviation of unemployment relief and the housing shortage by tho encouragement of new methods. Ministers were inquiring into the possibility of improving the old age pensions and the pensioning ef widowed mothers. Measures would bo submitted for encouraging the sugar beet industry and for providing for the marking' of imported foodstuffs, and for carrying out tho recommendations of the committee on preservatives and coloring in food,—A. and N.Z. Cable. HOUSE OF COMMONS. SINGAPORE AND PREFERENCE. LONDON, December 9. (Received December 10, at 9.55 a.m.) Tu the House of Commons Mr Baldwin stated that the Government had not yet decided on the length of time over which the Singapore works would be spread. He said lie was communicating with the dominions in regard to the question of contributions. Mr L. C. Amery (Colonial Secretary) gave notice of tho introduction of a Bill to carry' out the Economic Conference's proposals.—A. and N.Z. Cable.