THE KING AND PARLIAMENT

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21960, 8 December 1936, Page 9

THE KING AND PARLIAMENT

Formation of Alternative Cabinet

MR ATTLEE DENIES GIVING PROMISE

Demonstration Outside Prime Minister’s

Residence

No important developments in the issue between the King and the Government are reported from London this morning. The Prime Minister (Mr Stanley Baldwin) was expected to make a statement in the House of Commons when it met yesterday afternoon, and to disclose some of the wishes which the King expressed in his consultations with his Ministers.

The Leader of the Opposition. Mr C. R. Attlee, has denied the assertion that he gave the Prime Minister (Mr Stanley Baldwin) an assurance that he would not form a Government in the event of the National Cabinet resigning. This was first published on December 3 and some surprise has been expressed at Mr Attlee’s waiting some days before denying it.

A crowd of several thousand demonstrated in Downing Street, outside the Prime Minister’s residence and outside Buckingham Palace. Their shouts indicated that they supported the King.

The legal issues involved in abdication are discussed in the “Daily Mail,” where it is suggested that abdication might be ineffective unless confirmed by act of Parliament.

“WE ’WANT THE KING ”

CROWD DEMONSTRATES IN DOWNING STREET ARCHBISHOP’S CAR MOBBED (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT.) (Received December 7, 10.50 a.m.) LONDON, December G. When the Archbishop of Canterbury (the Most Rev. Dr. Cosmo Gordon Lang) called at No. TO Downing Street, to-day, as the Liberal leader (Sir Archibald Sinclair) was departing, a man rushed up to the archbishop’s car and shouted: “We want King Edward and his wife.” The archbishop spent 50 minutes with the Prime Minister (Mr Stanley Baldwin), and when he was about to leave two women held up large notices containing the words; “Hands off our King. Abdication means revolution.” Detectives hurried to the archbishop’s car, but the crowd took advantage of their action, broke through the police cordon, and filled the street. The police had to clear Downing Street after the archbishop’s motorcar was mobbed. The crowd, as the members of the Cabinet assembled, broke the police cordon and swarmed into the road. Mounted police edged them back after which they sang the National Anthem and lustily cheered the King. . When the members of the Cabinet dispersed, a section of the crowd broke out into booing and shouted: “Resign. We want the King. We don’t want Baldwin!” Police reserves cleared the street anew, but the crowd then moved to Buckingham Palace, where they sang the anthem, “Land of Hope and Glory,’ and also “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.” The crowd chorused: “We want the King, We are going to keep our Kingr The police told the crowd that the King was not at the Palace and advised them to depart, but they remained and repeated the choruses. The crowd grew to several thousand and impeded traffic. They then swung into a mighty chorus of “God Bless the Prince of Wales.” Earlier, a smaller demonstration occurred outside the Duke of York s home in Piccadilly. A woman who tried to walk along the street carrying a placard: “Hands off the King,” was turned back bv the police. She then walked along Whitehall, the crowd following.

REFERENCES IN THE

CHURCHES

DIVINE GUIDANCE SOUGHT

LONDON, December 6,

Westminster Abbey was thronged for the morning service. The Archbishop of York, in common with other clergy throughout Britain, asked for „ divine guidance for the heart and mind of th c - King, the people ot the Empire, and the Ministers and law givers. ~c A large congregation in bt. uaui s knelt in silent prayer after prayers for the King and his Ministers. References to the crisis were also made ir American churches ihe Rt. Rev. W. T. Manning, Bishop of New York, in the cathedral of bt. John the Divine, askeo for God s support and guidance, especially at this time, for “our brethren in the British Empire and the Church of England.” „ „ Tire Rev. Clement Rogers, Professor Emeritus of Pastoral Theo- ] jgy at King’s College, London, before preaching a sermon at Trinity Church, issued a sharp statement to the newspapers that the Church of England did not recognise the remarriage of divorced persons, “We do not recognise bigamy, he said. “I think if she were a resno'’ able woman, English people would have 1 welcomed a commoner to the Throne. Some think it is no shame for a woman to put aside two husbands in the hope of a more brilliant alliance. I (.Link it is a disastrous business, ft has caused a great deal of harm. Such a marriage could 1 :ve done much to draw England and America together. This situation will put us apart.’

Such ol the cable news In this issue as is so headed has appeared In The Times •' and is sent to this paper by special permission. It should be understood that the opinions are not those of The Times” unless expressly stated to be