BRITISH PARLIAMENT

Northern Advocate, 26 October 1935, Page 10

BRITISH PARLIAMENT

PROROGATION CEREMONY THE KING’S SPEECH REFERENCE TO LEAGUE LONDON, October 25. The benches were very thinly occupied when Parliament was prorogued. Mr Ramsay MacDonald and Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister were the only Ministers present. Less than 20 watched the ceremony from the galleries. The King’s Speech at the prorogation of Parliament stated: “To the Queen and myself, this, my Silver Jubilee year, will ever remain one of our happiest memories. The wonderful tributes of affection we have received from every part of the Empire will be treasured in our hearts as long as we live. I was happy to welcome to London the Prime Ministers from the Dominions overseas, and representatives of India, who came to take part in the celebration of the Silver Jubilee. The critical situation which unhappily has arisen between Italy and Abyssinia has aroused the gravest concern. From the moment that the dispute occurred, my Government exerted itself to the utmost to promote a peaceful settlement. It regrets that these persistent endeavours have been unavailing to prevent a resort to force. “My Government loyally supports the efforts of the League, with a view to restoration of peace and the achievement of an equitable settlement in the spirit of the Covenant.” After recalling a further considerable advance made towards prosperity, and an improvement in employment, the speech refers to measures for dealing with distressed areas, and adds: “While my Government has not ceased its efforts to promote limitation and reduction of armaments by international agreement, it has been found impossible to postpone further expansion of the Air Force. Plans for the further development of Imperial air communications are under active considerations.