A GENTLEMAN OF ENGLAND

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21690, 25 January 1936, Page 15

A GENTLEMAN OF ENGLAND

KING AS COUNTRY

SQUIRE

"IN HIS OWN PLACE"

DEEP RELIGIOUS SENSE

(UNITED PBK3S ASSOCIATION—COPTMaHT.)

(Received January 24, 8.30 p.m.)

LONDON, January 23

King George left his home for the last time in the character in which he lived there, as the "Squire of Sandringham," says "The Times" in an editorial. "His life there was the life of a country gentleman among his own people, who saw in him the squire first and the King second. It was the same at Balmoral, where he was laird, and at his residence he was so much the natural thing that strangers were surprised at the apparent indifference with which the people of the estate treated his presence among them. King George was happiest in the country, living with his family in his own place among his own people.

"When the train bearing the coffin arrived in London those assembled were awaiting, not the squire of Sandringham, but King George of England. Not yet had the full pomp, and state of Empire claimed him. It was the King of England passing through the capital of England, where there were Kings of England long before there was a British Empire, and King George was proud of his kingly office—his birthright as an Englishman."

"Religious and Gracious"

In a tribute to King George's religion, "The Times'" comments on the words of Parliament's prayer, written in 1662, which refers to "Our most religious and gracious King." "If loyalty rather than veracity applied the first adjective to the King then reigning, veracity, no less than loyalty, finds in it a true description of the Monarch we mourn to-day," the article states. "The tributes paid to him would draw a false portrait if they ascribed his characteristics chiefly to inherited tradition, or, indeed, to any other source than his firmly held religious faith, and the utter self-forget-fulness with which he set himself to his daily task.

"The unwearied search for opportunities of showing kindness were the direct consequences of his religion. All those who less than a month ago heard the King's Christmas message will recall that 'God help me,' as he spoke of himself in impressive sincerity. Who can but feel to-day that that prayer has been answered, The help which strengthened him throughout his reign did not fail him at the end. It spared him what alone he dreaded—another long illness or the disabilities of old age. He had a happy Christmas with his family in the setting he loved best, a swift passage through the shadow, and so Home. God helped him, and that right early."

FOREIGN ROYALTIES TO ATTEND

VISITORS FOR FUNERAL

REPRESENTATIVES OF MANY NATIONS

LONDON, January 23

The former Kaiser has appointed Prince Friedrich, a godchild of King George, and the youngest son of the former Crown Prince, to represent the Hohenzollerns at the King's funeral. He will arrive in London on Monday—the former Kaiser's birthday. Additional foreign representatives who will attend' King George's funeral on January 28 will be:— Bulgaria—King Boris. Italy—The Crown Prince Umberto. Rumania—King Carol, Princes Michael and Nicholas, accompanied by detachments of two cavalry regiments. United States—Mr Norman Davis. Austrian-Prince Starhemberg. Siam—Prince Chulachakrabongse, Egypt—Crown Prince Farouk. Turkey—The Foreign Minister, Dr. Tewfik Risdi Aras. Poland—The Commander - in - Chief General Sosnkowski, Rear-Admiral Unrug, and other dignitaries. Russia—M. Litvinoff. Spain—The Foreign Minister, • Senor Urzaiz. Holland—Vice-Admiral Schorer. Hungary—The Foreign Minister, M. Dekanya. Lithuania—General Tallatkelpsa, representing the Army, and M. Lozoraitis, Foreign Minister.

THE TRIBUTE OF PARLIAMENT Grief and Loyalty ADDRESS BY MR BALDWIN (TJJTITED PEI 33 ABSOCUTIOH—COPTBIBST.) (Received 24, 7.5 p.m.) LONDON, January 23. To-day, through the spoken words of the leaders of all parties, Parliament paid its. tribute to the memory of the late King. It also expressed with sincerity and unanimity its loyal devotion to the new Sovereign, coupled with a declaration of belief that his reign like that of his father, will foe marked by unswerving efforts to promote the welfare of the realm.

Mr Stanley Baldwin, as Prime Minister, moved a series of resolutions. The first was addressed to King Edward, its terms representing the feelings of loyalty of the House of Commons as a whole. There was a resolution of condolence with Queen Mary on the great loss she had suffered, and it embodied the wish of the House that her Majesty should at. -the same time be assured of the unalterable affection in whith she is held by the parliamentary representatives of the nation. A more formal resolution was to the effect that the, members of the House of Commons will attend the funeral service for King George. Proceedings began with Mr Baldwin reading the following message from the King:

I am well assured that the House of Commons deeply mourns the death of my beloved father. He devoted his life to service to the people, and to the upholding of constitutional government. He was ever actuated by a profound sense of duty. I am resolved to follow the way he set before me. - EDWARD, R.I.

Spiritual Power of Crown

Mr Baldwin, amid subdued cheers, moved the resolutions. He said that the temporal powers of the Crown had diminished through the ages, yet to-day the spiritual power of the Crown was not only far greater than ever but also greater than any man in visions or dreams could have foreseen.

N "It holds together a whole Empire of English-speaking people," said Mr Baldwin. "It is, I believe, an indissoluble link, which is due to the character of those who have held the Throne in the last 100 years—Queen Victoria, King Edward, and King George." Mr Baldwin recalled that it was in Westminster Hall that the first Parliament was held. Throu'gh the long centuries until yesterday's proclamation of King Edward VIII. the evolution of the Constitution had continued. There had been changes manifold in the usage of Parliament and changes in the nature of the Monarchy, but these changes had been accomplished for the most part peacefully and in accordance with the political tradition of the British race.

The great achievement of the last century, 'culminating, perhaps, in the reign of King George V., was the coming to terms of democracy end the Monarchy. A system unique in the world was evolved, which gave stability to the body politic. It was a system that most'countries to-day would give all they had to possess. The King communicated his personality by some indefinable, intangible wave of, sympathy and understanding to every one of his subjects, not only at home but also throughout the world.

Countering Changes

'The power of the Crown today, continued Mr Baldwin, "is not a power of force. It is a great moral power which must depend on the character and quality of him who sits on the Throne.

Important as we may think ourselves in our generation wh*o wrestle with the political problems of the country and act as the King's advisers, we are but ephemeral compared with the Monarch. "It was in the reign of King George that the greatest and swiftest changes occurred. He met the challenge of time without flinching and triumphed at a time when a slip of speech or action might have wrought irreparable damage. He never considered his own ease or leisure. We have no memory of him but at his best, and his best something very high. He fell asleep at peace with all the world" In a touching reference to the Queen Mother, Mr Baldwin said that her relationship to the late King was something too sacred even for comment in that House. "There is,no need to dwell on how his Majesty's power and influence for good was enhanced in a million YuJ S J? y th » r , lch com Panionship of the Queen," he said. "I would merely assure the Queen that the whole country feels for her something far removed from conventional grief.- v

Experience of Affairs

«,« * * our th ° u g hts must turn to the future. We offer congratulations to our new King. No two sovereigns in the long gallery of ancestors have served their people m identical fashion. The last three sovereigns were widely divergent in their gifts. s . '.'King Edward VIII. in his turn brings to the same altar a personality richly endowed with experience travel and of universal goodwill. He has the. secret of youth, and is nvthe prime of his age. He has a wider and more intimate knowledge of all glasses of fiis subjects, nit only at. home, but through the Dominions and India, than any of his predecessors.

We cannot foresee what paths the course of the Empire may take, but our ancient constitution has shown £wo£ * e v L otds of his *ather, adaptable to change. That virtue has not left us, and while we remain true to our inheritance and our character it never will. It is now in a special and unique sense, in the keeping of the young King whom we have sworn to cherish. "We look forward with confidence and assurance to the new reign, believing that he will establish the Throne more firmly than ever on its surest and only foundation—the hearts of his people," concluded Mr Baldwin.

GRATITUDE OF THE QUEEN Dominion's Message Of Sympathy REPLY RECEIVED BY LORD GALWAY (PBBSS ASSOCIATION TBLEGEAH.) WELLINGTON, January 24. The Secretary, of State for Dominion Affairs has sent the following cable message, dated January 23, to the Governor-General (Lord Galway):—

I am desired by Queen Mary to convey to your Prime Minister and to the Government and people of New Zealyand an expression •of her Majesty's deep gratitude for their kind message of sympathy with her in her great loss.

SERVICE AT SEA

CEREMONY ON AMERICAN

LINER

MESSAGE OF SYMPATHY SENT

BY WIRELESS

[THE PRESS Special Service.]

AUCKLAND, January 24.

A notable tribute to the memory of his Majesty King George . was paid on the American liner Monterey during her voyage from Suva to Auckland. The liner arrived at Auckland to-day, and the British passengers spoke in the highest terms of the manner in which their American cousins had joined with them in their mourning for the death of the Xing. The Monterey was at Suva when the news of the King's death was received, and immediately the Stars and Stripes at the stern were lowered to half mast. According to one passenger the island port lost almost instantaneously the holiday atmosphere which invariably attends the arrival there of an overseas vessel The following day, when the Monterey was again at sea, a memorial service was held in the lounge. It was conducted by Captain Johanson, assisted by three ministers of religion, and was attended by all the passengers and officers. Although there was insufficient space to accommodate the members of the crew, all work on the liner ceased temporarily as far as was possible at sea.

The service was short and dignified, and that it was conducted by an American sea captain seemed to add to its sincerity. Prayers, were offered and hymns sung, and a short address on the reign of King George and the traditions of the British, monarchy was given by Dr G. H. Scholefield, New Zealand parliamentary librarian, who was a passenger. An equally impressive tribute was the wireless message sent from the Monterey to the Secretary of State' for the Dominions. It read: "British subjects, fellow passengers, the captain and ship's company on board the bound for New Zealand, .desire respectfully to convey to the Queen Mother and the Royal Family their deepest sympathy."

MESSAGE FROM SAMOA !

AND NIUE

(PHESB ASSOCIATION TEIJSGEAM.)

WELLINGTON, January 24.

The following telegram to th« Prime Minister (the Hon. ML J. Savage) was sent by the Administrator of Western Samoa, dated January 21:—"The proclamation of accession Of King Edward VUL was read at 11 a.m. to-day before a large assembly of citizens—European and Samoan. Police and returned soldiers formed a guard of honour. I received on every side expressions of sympathy in the death of King George V., and loyalty to King Edward VIII., including tokens from the islanders, the various missions, and the Chinese and German communities.

"A special deputation from the Concordia Club waited on mej and conveyed to you their deep sympathy in the loss to the Empire, and assuring you of their loyalty to the new King." The Island Council of Niue has sent the following telegram to Mr Savage, dated January 23: "Niue mourns and weeps with her most gracious Majesty and Royal Family because of the death of our beloved King, George V. Niue hails with joy our new Sovereign, King Edward VIII. May he live long to reign over us, and may his reign be one of peace and prosperity to all men of all nations. All the people of Niue are loyal to the King and the Empire."

MESSAGE FROM JEWS

The following cable message from New Zealand Jewry was dispatched , to her Majesty Queen Mary:

The Jewish community of New Zealand respectfully tender to your Majesty and the members of the Royal Family their heartfelt sympathy and grief at the lamented passing of their late beloved Sovereign. David Markham, president, Wellington.

David Nathan, . president, Auckland.

P-hineas Selig, president, Christ* church. .

David Phillips, president, Dunedin.

A special memorial service will be held in the Synagogue commencing at 10 o'clock this morning.

AHt LINER HECBIVES THE

NEWS

LONDON, January 23. The ; Imperial Airways aeroplane Aurora heard the wireless announcement of the King's death when it was at an altitude of 6000 feet between Calcutta and Akyab. It inkmediately dived in salute*