Parliament Assembles

Eight prancing horses drew a gilded coach fairytalewise from the Palace of Buckingham to Westminster?from the residence of the sovereign to the assembly halls of the British Parliament. George Frederick Ernest Albert R. I. of Windsor (formerly of Saxe-Coburg und Gotha*) rode within, attired in a blazing red and gold field-marshal's uniform. Beside him sat the Queen-Empress, Victoria Mary, daughter of the late Francis Duke of Teck. Few of all the throngs that cheered them recalled that in 1892, one year before they were married, the death of Albert, Prince of Wales (now commonly referred to as the Duke of Clarence), elevated his younger brother George from the post of Commander of H. M. S. Melampus to the style of heir to the British throne. Descending from their carriage, the Imperial pair entered the State Robing Room of the Houses of Parliament.

Mise en Scene. When they emerged, the King had exchanged his military garb for robes of state, "the ermine, the purple, and the crown." The Queen of course wore her imposing State Crown, topped by a blazing Maltese Cross of diamonds. A diamond stomacher twinkled on the jet black gown which she had donned in mourning for Queen Alexandra. Close beside the throne stood the Marquis of Salisbury, holding the great Sword of State. Since the Prince of Wales was unable to appear on account of his fractured collar bone (TIME, Feb. 8), his brother, the Duke of York, took up his station slightly to the left of the throne. The Keeper of His Majesty's Privy Purse, the Gentlemen Usher of the Black Rod, the First Lady of the Bedchamber and many another took their places. As the King summoned the members of the House of Commons to enter the House of Lords and hear the Royal Speech, there was a flutter among Peers robed in scarlet, gold and ermine; among Peeresses clad in mourning, which set off their tiaras and coronets to advantage; among prelates in gold and black; among judges whose heads were swathed in wigs large as beehives.

The King's Speech. The King commenced to read the opening sentences of his address in clear, measured tones. Almost at once his voice became slightly hoarse and occasionally it was difficult to catch a word or phrase.

He said that he had concluded a treaty with the King of Irak, was sending a representative to the League Disarmament conference, had concluded a debt funding agreement with Italy, etc.

Lloyd George's Speech. With the opening of debate in the House of Commons, Liberal Leader David Lloyd George took several cracks at the policy of the Conservative Government as announced from the throne. Said he anent the "fair and honest" Anglo-Italian debt settlement: "[As Premier]! was perfectly prepared to cancel inter-Allied debts and the debt of Germany to us, provided the United States was prepared to forego what was owing to her. ... If we had just stood pat, that would have gone through. . . . But it is no use talking about that now. The American debt has been funded. . . . Remember, moreover, that it costs this country a shilling in the pound in income tax to pay the interest on the money we have advanced to France and Italy.

This year we shall get from Italy the equivalent of between a farthing and halfpenny in the pound on the income tax. We are paying sixpence. Then after a year the Italian payment will reach three farthings in the pound, but although Italy will go on paying for 50 or 60 years, she will never climb to the sublime altitude of a penny.

"What is there to congratulate ourselves on about such a settlement? The taxpayers of this country are not being treated fairly!"

Politicians smiled at Mr. George's opportunism, recalled that he won the election which sent him to the Peace Conference with the slogan, "Hang the Kaiser and make Germany pay every farthing!"

They noted that earlier in the week the Liberty Party caucus re-elected him Chairman of the party by 17 votes to 7 with Mr. George and 5 others abstaining from voting and 12 Liberals not even present. Thus Mr. George returns to the Commons none too enthusiastically supported by his little "corporal's guard" of Liberals. In the opening debates several Labor M. P.'s made flattering implied overtures to him. Observers opined that Mr. George is listening hard, with his ear to the ground.

* The British Royal House changed from Hanover to Saxe-Coburg und Gotha by the marriage of Queen Victoria to a prince of the latter house. On Jan. 17, 1917, "the House of Windsor" was arbitrarily created.