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ceeding as to the manner in which compliance with these conditions is to be effected.

The establishment of the Australian Commonwealth was proclaimed at Sydney on the 1st January with many manifestations of popular enthusiasm and rejoicing.

My deeply beloved and lamented mother had assented to the visit of the Duke of Cornwall and York to open the first Parliament of the new Commonwealth in her name.

A separation from my son, especially at euch a moment, cannot be otherwise than deeply painful; but I still desire to give effect to Her late Majesty's wishes, and as an evidence of her interest, as well as of my own, in all that concerns the welfare of my subjects beyond the seas, I have decided that the visit to Australia shall not be abandoned, and shall be extended to New Zealand and to the Dominion of Canada.

The prolongation of hostilities in South Africa has led me to make a further call upon the patriotism and devotion of Canada and Australasia. I rejoice that my request has met with a prompt and loyal response, and that large additional contingents from those Colonies will embark for the seat of war at an early date.

The expedition organized for the suppression of the rebellion in Ashanti has been crowned with signal success. The endurance and gallantry of my native troops, ably commanded by Sir James Willcocks, and led by British officers, have overcome both the stubborn resistance of the most warlike tribes in West Africa and the exceptional difficulties of the climate, the season, and the country in which the operations have been conducted.

The garrison of Coomassie, which was besieged by the enemy, has been relieved after a prolonged and gallant defence; the principal Kings have surrendered, aud the chief impediment to the progress and development of this rich portion of my West African possessions has now, I hope, been finally removed.

The suffering and mortality caused by a prolonged drought over a large portion of my Indian Empire has been greatly alleviated by a seasonable rainfall; but I regret to add that in parts of the Bombay Presidency distress of a serious character still continues, which my officers are using every endeavour to mitigate.

Gentlemen of the House of Commons,

The Estimates for the year will be laid before you. Every care has been taken to limit their amount, but the naval and military requirements of the country, and especially the outlay consequent on the South African war, have involved an inevitable increase.

The demise of the Crown renders it necessary that a renewed provision shall be made for the Civil List. I place unreservedly

at your disposal those hereditary revenues which were so placed by my predecessor; and I have commanded that the papers necessary for a full consideration of the subject shall be laid before you.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

Proposals will be submitted to your judgment for increasing the efficiency of my military forces.

Certain changes in the constitution of the Court of Final Appeal are rendered necessary in consequence of the increased resort to it, which has resulted from the expansion of the Empire during the last two generations.

Legislation will be proposed to you for the amendment of the law relating to education.

Legislation has been prepared, and, if the time at your disposal shall prove to be adequate, will be laid before you, for the purpose of regulating the voluntary sale by landlords to occupying tenants in Ireland; for amending and consolidating the Factory and Workshops Acts; for the better administration of the law respecting lunatics; for amending the Public Health Acts in regard to water supply; for the prevention of drunkenness in licensed houses or public places; and for amending the law of literary copyright.

I pray that Almighty God may continue to guide you in the conduct of your deliberations, and may bless them with success.

SPEECH of the King, on the Closing of the British Parliament.-Westminster, August 17, 1901.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

Ir is satisfactory to be able to close the first Parliament of my reign with the assurance that the cordiality of the relations between Great Britain and other Powers remains undiminished.

The nature and extent of the reparation to be given by China for the unexampled outrages committed last summer have been the subject of protracted discussion among the Powers. I am glad to be able to inform you that, by a general agreement, in which China has concurred, the extent of the indemnity to be provided by that Government, and the security for its payment to the various Powers have been determined; and the punishment of the guiltiest of the offenders has also been insisted on.

The progress of any forces in the conquest of the two Republics by whom my South African Colonies have been invaded has been

steady and continuous; but owing to the difficulty and extent of

the country to be traversed, the length of the military operations has been protracted.

The signal success which has attended the visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York to the Colonies has afforded me the greatest gratification, which, I am convinced, is shared by all classes of my subjects throughout the Empire. The opening of the first Parliament of the Australian Commonwealth by the heir to the throne is an event of wide significance and deep interest, and the enthusiastic welcome which has been given to my son and his wife in every Colony they have visited is an additional proof of the patriotism, loyalty, and devotion of the people of my dominions

oversea.

In my Indian Empire the recovery of agriculture and trade from the depression caused by the famine has been somewhat retarded by the lateness of the rainfall. The most recent information is, however, reassuring, and prospects are reported to be much improved. Should these favourable conditions continue, a rapid reduction in the present area of distress and the restoration to the population of their usual means of livelihood may confidently be expected.

Gentlemen of the House of Commons,

I have to note with great satisfaction the liberal provision which you have made for the naval and military services during the current

year.

I thank you for the arrangements you have made for the maintenance of the honour and dignity of the Crown; and especially for those which affect the state and comfort of my Royal Consort.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

Your attention has been directed during the past Session mainly to the legislative provisions required by the special circumstances of the year. Unusual demands have been made upon the time at the disposal of Parliament by the demise of the Crown, by the continuance of an arduous war, and the necessity of raising fresh revenue by a wider range of taxation. While providing for the heavy expenditure of the war, you have further made provision for the increase in many important respects of the efficiency of the naval and military forces of the Empire.

I have observed, with great satisfaction, that you have passed a Bill to amend and consolidate that code of factory law from which so much benefit has already been derived by the working classes of this country; and that the law relating to youthful offenders has been amended in such a manner as will prevent the imprisonment of young children.

The measure which you have adopted for vesting in local authorities the superintendence of certain important departments of education will in itself be of great benefit to them, and will prepare the way for further reforms.

I am gratified to see that you have given effect to a widely expressed desire on the part of my subjects beyond the sea by authorizing me to make such additions to the Royal title as may seem to me expedient.

I earnestly commend you to the merciful protection and guidance of Almighty God.

DECLARATION amending Article XI of the Treaty between Great Britain and Austria-Hungary, of December 3, 1873, for the Mutual Surrender of Fugitive Criminals.—Signed at London, June 26, 1901.*

[Ratifications exchanged at London, June 25, 1902.]

As it is considered necessary by the Government of Great Britain and Ireland and by the Governments of Austria and Hungary to extend the period of fourteen days fixed in Article XI of the Treaty for the mutual surrender of criminals, concluded on the 3rd December, 1873, between Her late Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Empress of India, &c., on one side, and His Majesty the Emperor of Austria, King of Bohemia, &c., and Apostolic King of Hungary, on the other, the respective Plenipotentiaries, undersigned, have agreed that

NACHDEM Von der Regierung Grossbritanniens und Irlands und von den Regierungen Öesterreichs und Ungarns, die Verlängerung der im Artikel XI des zwischen weiland Ihrer Majestät der Königin des vereinigten Königreiches von Grossbritannien und Irland, Kaiserin von Indien, &c., einerseits, und Seiner Majestät dem Kaiser von Öesterreich, König von Böhmen, &c., und Apostolischen König von Ungarn, andererseits, am 3. December 1873,† über die gegenseitige Auslieferung der Verbrecher abgeschlossenen Staatsvertrages festgesetzten Frist von 14 Tagen für nothwendig erkannt worden ist, haben die hiezu bevollmächtigten

Signed also in the Hungarian language.
+ Vol. LXIII, page 213.

The last paragraph of Article XI of the said Treaty of Extradition shall be altered as follows:

"Provided, however, that he shall be discharged if, within the shortest time possible, and at the utmost within one month, a requisition for his surrender in accordance with the terms of Article IX of this Treaty be not made by the Diplomatic Representative of the State which requests his extradition."

The present Declaration shall have the same force and duration as the Extradition Treaty of the 3rd December, 1873, to which it relates.

The present Declaration shall be ratified, and the ratifications shall be exchanged as soon as possible at London.

In witness whereof the respective Plenipotentiaries have signed the same and have affixed thereto the seal of their arms.

Done in duplicate at London, the 26th day of June, 1901.

For Great Britain and Ireland, His Britannic Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs,

(L.S.) LANSDOWNE For Austria and for Hungary, the Austro-Hungarian Ambasbassador,

(L.S.) DEYM.

Unterzeichneten Folgendes vereinbart

Der letzte Absatz des Artikels XI des erwähnten AuslieferungsVertrages wird folgendermassen abgeändert :

"Vorausgesetzt wird übrigens, dass in der kürzesten Frist und zwar längstens binnen einem Monate bei sonstiger Entlassung des Verhafteten, durch den diplomatischen Vertreter des um die Auslieferung ersuchenden Staates eine Requisition wegen der Auslieferung in der dem Artikel IX dieses Vertrages entsprechenden Weise erhoben wird."

Die gegenwärtige Erklärung wird dieselbe Kraft und Dauer haben, wie der AuslieferungsVertrag vom 3. December 1873, auf welchen sie sich bezieht.

Die gegenwärtige Erklärung wird ratificirt werden und werden die Ratificationen sobald als möglich in London ausgewechselt werden.

Zu Urkund dessen haben die Unterzeichneten diese Erklärung gefertigt und ihre Siegel beigedrückt.

So geschehen zu London, in doppelter Ausfertigung am 26. Juni 1901.

Für Grossbritannien und Irland, der Königlich Grossbritannische Staatssecretär für die Auswärtigen Augelegenheiten,

(L.S.) LANSDOWNE. Für Öesterreich und für Ungarn, der Öesterreichisch-Ungarische Botschafter,

(L.S.) DEYM.

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