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Show KiNG GEORGE READS SPEECH IN PARLIAMENT Critical Stage in Irish Negotiations Ne-gotiations Keeps Prime Minister Away LONDON, Feb. 7 (By the Associated Asso-ciated rrcs3 ) 'Tho critical stage which the Irish neKotlations have reached prevented Prime Minister Lloyd George and Austell Chamberlain, Chamber-lain, government leader in the house of commons from attending the opening open-ing of parliament today. It is unusual un-usual for the prime minister not to bo in attendance while the king's speech I Is being read. j Arthur Griffith, president of thf ' Dai! Eircann was in conference with ' the prime minister and Mr. Chamber-) Chamber-) lain at the prime minister's residence while the royal procession was passing through White Hall. P IRU Ml .NT REOPENED The Imperial parliament which was prorogued December 19 to await action ac-tion on the Irish treaty by the Dal Bireann, was reopened today with the reading of the speech from the throne by King George-Regarding George-Regarding the Irish treaty, the king said parliament would be called upon to consider "such measures as may be necessary to give effect to the agreement." agree-ment." He also touched upon the neg-llations neg-llations for a pact with France to guarantee action in the event of "an unprovoked attack by Germany," and : paid high tribute to the accomplishment accomplish-ment of the v, sShington conference. KING M IKES SPEECH in his speedli the Kin said: "During the lust throe months the Washington conference on the questions ques-tions of disarmament and ihc Fa.-DJasl Fa.-DJasl continued its sessions. A treaty designed to maintain peace in the pacific pa-cific has been signed by representatives representa-tives of the British Empire, the United !-'rnl,.M IVaniia nmri Immh wA .malt. ratification. "While the treaty replaces the Ang-lO-Japanese alliance. I am happy to feel iloit the lontr Htandln concord between the two countries will remain as cordial as er under the arrange-1 arrange-1 ments thus concluded. At the name time our relations with the I'nlled States of America enter a now and even clocer phase of friendship PR USE, FOR M UEIDING "An agreement also was reached on he question of disarmament and a I treaty has been signed providing a . I large measure of relief irom the burden bur-den of armaments. In all these respects great results have been attained and the success of the conference, for Which the world will owe a deep debt i of gratitude to the inltutive of the president of the United States of America Am-erica will, be the happiest augury for future International relations. "The problem of securing payment of reparations by Germany in the manner moss comfortable to the en- , era interest engages the continuous - consideration of my ministers and of I our allies. "Te (ierman government, at the reiii.-h' ..f the alllws. have themae W (Continued on iag Two.) |