"CRISIS RACING TO CLIMAX"

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21961, 9 December 1936, Page 13

"CRISIS RACING TO CLIMAX"

♦ REPORT IN LONDON NEWSPAPER KING’S DECISION SOON MR BALDWIN EXPECTED TO VISIT FORT BELVEDERE II.NITKU I’ll r.ss ASSOCIATION rUI'VKIUHT.) (Received December 8, 9,30 p.m.) LONDON, December 8. The political correspondent of the “News-Chronicle” says the crisis is now racing to its climax, and a decision by the King, one way or the other, may be expected within a comparatively few hours. Immediate developments are likely to be a summons to Mr Baldwin to go to Fort Belvedere to-day, and probably a Cabinet meeting in the afternoon or evening. The “News-Chronicle” adds; “The way of personal renunciation has been made clear for the King by the act of the woman he loves. What she can do, he can do, and it is his duty to do it.” TL political correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says it is understood that the King’s decision is not likely to be available until Wednesday or Thursday. His Majesty has been profoundly impressed by the evidence of the country’s feelings, and the warmth of Mr Baldwin’s reception in the House of Commons *s regarded as an indication that Parliament will support the Government. The “News-Chronicle” says the Cabinet has been, summoned for tomorrow. According to the newspapers the King’s decision is expected to-day or to-morrow. A car, believed to be carrying documents from London, arrived at Fort Belvedere at 2 a.m. “The Times,” referring to statements in other newspapers that the Primate is actively opposing the King’s projected marriage, says: “That the Primate is indeed opposed to the King’s project nobody doubts, and so arc vast numbers of his Majesty’s subjects, even among those who arc not what is called ecclesiastically-minded. But it is a fact that the Archbishop has on no occasion so much as discussed with the King the matter which must be uppermost in his thoughts. He may well' have thought that any intervention on his part would do more harm than good, both because ol his position as head of the Church of England, and because of his known friendship with King Edward’s father, whose closing days were clouded by anxiety for the future. The King has not encouraged the idea that he is in conflict with the Government and would disapprove an attempt to stir up a controversy on such lines. The King remained throughout the day at Fort Belvedere, where he was visited by the Duke of York, and in the evening by Mr W. T. Monckton (Attorney-General to the Duchy of Cornwall), who accompanied by Sir Ed-vard Peacock, Receiver-General for the Duchy of Cornwall, visited Ur Baldwin for 75 minutes and returned to Fort Belvedere at midnight. His Majesty was out walking in the grounds of Fort Belvedere yesterday in brilliant sunshine, after an icy night. Hundreds of messages of loyalty are pouring into Fort Belvedere, every mail necessitating extra deliveries. Some idea of the size of the King s mail may be gathered from the statement by the Hungarian PosQ Office that during the last five days 2000 telegrams of sympathy have been sent to King Edward by Hungarian women of all classes, in addition to 500 dispatched to London florists ordering flowers to be sent to his Majesty. SLOGANS CHALKED ON BUILDINGS PROSECUTIONS IN POLICE COURTS LONDON, December 7. Various suburban police courts today dealt with cases in which the accused were fined or discharged with a warning, for damaging property by chalking, “Stand by the King,” and similar slogans, sometimes accompanied by the swastika on walls. Shortly after Mr Baldwin returned to Downing Street, at 9.15 p.m., e grouf of youths passed along Whitehall selling pamphlets and shouting: “Stand by the King.” QUESTIONS PUT TO GOVERNMENT THE “DAILY MIRROR S’’ FRONT PAGE 1 ~ LONDON, December 7. The “Daily Mirror’ contains an unconventional front page. “God save the King” supersedes the reduced title line. Then in the boldest type are five questions, including the following: “Will the Government approach the Dominions to reconsider their verdict against the King and consent to his marriage?” “Would abdication mean the King’s exile?” These questions are sandwiched b ween still larger type: “Forty-five million demand to know” and “And then they will judge.” INDIAN NATIONALIST VIEW ALLAHABAD, December 7. The Nationalist newspapers unanimously favour the King marrying whom he chooses.