“THE WORLD HAS LOST A GREAT MAN”

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 100, 22 January 1936, Page 16

“THE WORLD HAS LOST A GREAT MAN”

Sorrow Shared TRIBUTES ’TO KING BY CONSULS Warm expressions of high regard for the character, prestige and leadership of the late King were given yesterday by consular representatives of other nationalities resident in New' Zealand. Representatives of many countries joined in expressions of sympathy with the British people in the loss suffered by the Empire. Among the messages given were:—M. Armand Nihotte, Consul for Belgium: The British Empire has lost a father and the world a great man. It is symbolical of the reciprocal affection and friendship which has always united England and Belgium as well as the Royal Houses of both countries that two of the last public ceremonies in which his Majesty the King-Emperor took part personally or through his representatives were connected with Belgium. On November 4, the city of Mons and the Belgian returned soldiers of the Mons district, in the presence of Prince Charles of Belgium, of Field-Marshal Sir G. Milne, and of delegations of several British regiments, presented in the course of an impressive ceremony to his Majesty King George, through the British Ambassador in Brussels, a silver reproduction—a true masterpiece—of the belfry of Mons containing some of the Belgian soil in which are sleeping for ever the soldiers of the Empire, as a token of the admiration of the Belgian people on the occasion of his silver jubilee.

In December last, a few weeks later, during one of his visits to London King Leopold 111 was invested by his British Majesty with the insignia of that glorious and exclusive Order of the Garter, in which he succeeded his four predecessors of the Belgian dynasty. This will serve,to illustrate how deeply and painfully the death of his Majesty is going to be felt in Belgium. We, have been ourselves very recently through the same sorrow which has now gripped the people of the Empire, and the affectionate sympathy which they showed us in those trying hours is still living vividly in our hearts. Today it is our sad privilege to stand instinctively with them sharing their great loss. The magnificent and astounding prestige of King George V conveyed to-day by the sadness of the people remains, however, a great comfort. The grief of the masses shows us to what point the sentiment of honour and the spontaneous homage to the dignity of autho rity are human. The worth of George V, in the eyes of his people and of the world, is to be found in his moral qualities. He is and shall remain great by the virtues of his kingship rather than by the might he embodied. Interpreter of Belgium in this loyal outpost of the King’s empire, I tender to all the loving subjects of his Majesty my heartfelt, sincere and profound sympathy.

Mr. O. Carraro, actiug-Consul of Italy: I have learned with deep regret of the death of his Majesty King George of England, and on behalf of all Italians residing in this Dominion, and myself, I wish to convey to the people of New Zealand the most sincere sympathy for the great loss his death has caused. Mr. W. Penseler, Consul for Germany: All Germans in New Zealand regret the death of his Majesty King George. He was a monarch universally admired and all German people 'will feel sympathy to the Royal House of England and the people of the British Empire. Mr. Feng Wang, Consul for the Republic of China: On behalf of the Chinese residents of New Zealand I convey most profound sympathy in the bereavement which the British Empire has sustained by the death of its most illustrious and beloved Sovereign. Mr. J. T. Martin, Consul for Sweden: For the Swedish people living in New Zealand I can express sincere feeling. His Majesty was esteemed beyond even the wide territories of his own Empire, as I saw when visiting Sweden, Denmark and Germany after the Silver Jubilbe, for there was evident admiration for the depth of loyalty between the Throne and the constituent parts of the British Empire. Sweden joins the British Empire in mourning, Mr. E. J. Hyams, Consul in New Zealand for Czechoslovakia:

I desire to express the. deep regret at the death of his Majesty King George V on behalf of the people of Czechoslovakia and the residents of the Republic in New Zealand. The great loss that the British Empire has suffered in the death of a beloved monarch excites the deepest sympathy of the people of Czechoslovakia, especially those resident within the British Empire. Mr. Birger Lynneberg, Acting-Consul for Norway: I wish to convey on behalf of Norwegians residing in New Zealand deepest sympathy with the Royal Family in their great loss and sorrow through the death of his Majesty King George V, AMERICA’S SORROW Message From the , President The sympathy of the United States with the people of New’ Zealand in the death of the King has been expressed in a cablegram from the President, Mr. Franklin Roosevelt, which was received by the Governor-Gener-al, Viscount Galway. The text of the cablegram, which was sent from White House, Washington, is as follows: “Ou my own behalf and on behalf of the American people, I extend to your Excellency profound condolences upon the death of his -Majesty King George, a ruler whose kindly statesmanship has set up an example to the world.” His Excellency has sent the following cablegram in reply: “On behalf of the Government of New’ Zealand and the:people of New Zealand may I express, Mr. President, our most grateful thanks for your kind message of sympathy on the death of our beloved King.”

SECRETARY OF STATE TO PRIME MINISTER The Prime Minister. Hon. M. J. Savage, yesterday received the following communication from Mr. Cordell

Hull, Secretary of State of the Government of the United States: — “I extend to you and to the members of your Government an expression of my sorrow at the, death of his Majesty King George, whose passing has deeply grieved the Amerfcan people.” The Prime Minister dispatched the following reply: “On behalf of the Government and people of the Dominion of New Zealand I desire very warmly to thank you for your expression of sympathy on the passing of his Majesty King George V. whose death is a matter of personal sorrow to the people of this Dominion.'