Parliament was prorogued on Wednesday. As a rule, the Queen's
Speech at the end of the Session is purely formal, but the Speech of Wednesday contained one paragraph of real importance. After reciting the facts as to the petition, the Speech proceeds :—" The position of my subjects in the South African Republic is inconsistent with the promises of equal treatment on which my grant of internal independence to that Republic was founded, and the unrest caused thereby is a constant source of danger to the peace and prosperity of my dominions in South Afrioa. Negotiations on this subject with the Government of the South African Republic have been entered into and are still proceeding." As a concise statement of the situation that is excellent, but the omission of the hopes, usually expressed on such occasions, that diplo- matic action will find a way out of the difficulty is decidedly ominous.
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