Behind the scenes in the abdication crisis

Press, 3 July 1979, Page 15

Behind the scenes in the abdication crisis

Behind the acenes in the abdication crisis portrayed in “Edward and Mrs Simpson,” TVI tonight, there were desperate attempts to solve the confect which was undermining the monarchy — or at least stav< off the outcome. , There w'ere factions for and against the King. Spme tried to make the King see reason, to understand his duty and to come to terms with his obligations, while others championed the King and his right to marry. > Desperate alternative proposals were made to keep the King on the throne — proposals which concerned the Cabinet, the Church of England and politicians across the em-

pire; and all the while the country was unaware of the constitutional crisis which was about to explode. In Government circles there existed grave anxie._ for the future of the Crown. The Government stance was stated in “The Times”: “the marriage is incompatible with the Throne and the nation cannot afford the influence of the great office to be weakened if private inclination were to come into open conflict wtih public duty and be al! ed to prevail.” The Prime Minister, Stanley Baldwin, and the Government left the King with only two choices —

giving up Mrs Simpson or giving up the Throne. The Labour Party under the leadership of Clement Allee was on the side of the Government, partly because its supporters tended to oppose the King’s choice; partly on the strictly constitutional ground, important to a future Labour Government. that the King must accept the advice of his Ministers. He told Baldwin: “It is important not to think that London speaks for the country. The Labour Party is deeply rooted in the provincial decencies and not in metropolitan chic.” Atlee agreed with Baldwin’s views of the crisis and gave his assurance that, should the Prime Minister resign, he would refuse to form an alternative government. Baldwin and Atlee t timed infallibly to speak for the people yet they blocked the King’s attempt to appeal to his people directly for it would divide the nation. Throughout the crisis Baldwin, Atlee, and the politicians indicated that their power was the greatest although they were not without staunch opposition. Winston Churchill, as Home Secretary, allied strongly with Edward. He spoke out daily in Parliament, pleading for time and patience. He denounced the Government for putting pressure on the King. Again and again he asked that there should be no “irrevocable decision” made before Parliament had had a full statement of the issues. Churchill refused to

acknowledge any person who criticised the King and urged Edward to fight for the morganatic marriage. Churchill received little Parliamentary support but he stood by the King even when others knew the cause was a lost one. In the negotiations behind the scenes the Church declared its position. The King’s marriage would cause religious difficulties — the occupant of the throne is Defender

of the Faith in the Church of England, which still does not accept divorce. Dr Cosmo Gordon Lang, Archbishop of Canterbury and close friend of George V. strongly rebuked the King. He thought that “the Monarchy was being vulgarised and degraded, that mud was being thrown on sacred things. ’ “As months passed the thought of consecrating him as King weighed on me as a heavy burden.” said Dr Lang. He strongly

attacked the King for surrendering a “high and sacred trust through ‘craving’ private happiness.” More and more the King appeared as the tragic protagonist trapped in a drama, the course of which we could not alter. Throughout the latter stages of the crisis, Edward, faced with the personal confrontation between self and duty, was continually bombarded from all sides with advice and criticism.