IMPERIAL AFFAIRS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18329, 12 November 1921, Page 5

IMPERIAL AFFAIRS.

THE KING’S SPEECH. HOPES AND FEARS. A STATESMANLIKE SPEECH. , Received Nov. 11, 7.40 p.m. LONDON, Nov. 10. At the proragation of Parliament, ’ the Lord Chancellor read the King’s j I speech as follows: ' ' "I welcomed with the deepest \ satisfaction the Prime Ministers of| j I the Dominions and the representaI I lives of India who have been in conference with my advisers here. They I had questions of great moment to . discuss in common, and grave deci- , sions to make. Their presence has been invaluable and 1 trust it may j be found possible to arrange regular i meetings of a like character for the j further exchange of views and the discussion of common interests. Their ; deliberations on foreign policy dealt in particular with the problems of the , I Pacific and the Far East and the II questions arising out of the Empire’s _ | obligations under the Treaty of Ver--1 j sallies and other treaties of peace.” After recalling the work of the Imperial Conference and expressing 1 regret at the continuance of hostili- ! ties in Anatolia, the King expressed f satisfaction al the steps leading to 3 the conference on disarmament at j \ VYashington. He hoped the labours _ I would be crowned with success. “1 3 i pray my son's visit to India will ! ; still further strengthen the ties of , • affection which so long have linked j! my house with the princes and . peoples of India.” Addressing the j Commoners regarding trade and 2 finance His Majesty said: “I hope _ the financial year will end without a ! deficit in the Budget, but debts are _ great and taxation heavy and burdensome. Revenue cannot be maintained on tlie scale of the last three years. It is vitally important that expenditure in every department in public and private life be still further restricted. The situation in Ireland still causes me great anxiety. 1 earnestly exhort the leaders of all parties in Ireland and all those with power and influence in negotiations to exercise patience and moderation 5 with the object of establishing friendship and loyal co-operation between my people and that country. My firm belief and earnest prayer is that with forbearance, goodwill and 3 honest resolve to tread the paths of a oblivion and forgiveness and endurJ ing peace will finally be achieved. 1 j take pride in the calm and serene e spirit with which my people met the t trials of the coal stoppage and the , freedom from strife and violence j which characterised its course. The 2 dispute unhappily aggravated the ; adverse effects of the sudden world1 wide trade depression. The de--21 pression inflicted on the industries of _ I this country the most grievous exs perience in their history." After dealing with legislation on £ behalf of the unemployed he continues: “The peaceful settlement of , many difficult disputes by mutual | negotiations between employers and 2 work people, together with some ins dications of a revival of trade, ent courage my hope that the worst may _ be over and the state of employment show a steady if slow improvement. D | The position is still full of anxiety. 2 It is not, however, so much to Acts 1. of Parliament as to the good sense 2 1 of employers and the operatives , I working together for the promotion of their common interests that I look lor the restoration of trade and prosperity.” “i am happy to know on all issues my Governments here and overseas are in close accord. The conference gave serious attention to the defence of the Empire and the maintenance of an adequate measure of sea-power. It unanimously decided _ that the naval strength of the Empire should be equal to that of any ' other Power. As the result of pro--1 posals made by the Allied Powers to e | Germany in May, satisfactory proa I gress has been made by the German ’ j Government in the execution of their i financial disarmament obligations *7 under the Treaty of Versailles. , There is reason to hope the Polish--1 German settlement will be loyally ’ c carried out by the two parties prlnci- ” pally concerned and that a peaceful g honourable settlement will result. r Negotiations with Egypt have not ’’ yet reached a conclusion.”