On Monday Parliament was opened by the King, who was
aceompanied by the Queen, with the usual ceremonial, except that the King revived the ancient custom—abandoaed by
Queen Victoria—of wearing the Crown. The previous Session had been brought to an end on the preceding Friday. The King's Speech began with a reference to the fact that Monday was the fiftieth anniversary of the marriage of King Edward and Queen Alexandra. It went on to record the abortive peace negotiations in London and the present efforts to prevent the Balkan war from spreading. Hopefulness was expressed that a complete international understanding would be reached. The co-operation of the Dominions in naval defence was summarized, and a feeling reference was made to the attempt on the Viceroy in India, and to "the fortitude of the Viceroy and Lady Hardinge and the discipline and courage of all the officers of Government." As for the legislative programme, the attention of Parliament will be called again to the measures rejected by the Lords, but owing to " the arduous labours of the past year" the number of new Bills will be small. The list comprises an Irish Land Purchase Bill, a Sudan loan, a Bill to abolish plural voting, measures for controlling the feeble-minded and for further restricting the employment of children, and proposals for " the development of national education."
