The Dominion. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1936. THE KING AND THE PUBLIC

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 63, 8 December 1936, Page 10

The Dominion. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1936. THE KING AND THE PUBLIC

One of the factors to be reckoned with in resolving the extremely difficult and delicate situation created by the present conflict between King Edward and his Ministers throughout the Commonwealth is his immense popularity with the British public. The masses, both in the United Kingdom and in the overseas communities, have regarded the King’s impatience of convention and his readiness to fraternise with the people, and inquire closely into their condition, as appealing human qualities. Now that this crisis is upon him, a crisis which touches his own happiness, there is an inclination, indicated by the demonstrations in the streets of London and at Buckingham Palace, reported to-day, to sympathise with him in what may be considered a perfectly natural desire.

It is conceivable that this sentiment for the King may assume considerable dimensions. Already there has been some manifestation of its presence in this Dominion, in spite of the fact that our Government, with others in the Commonwealth, is opposed to the marriage. In matters of sentiment, and especially in those concerning love and marriage, it is well established that the heart is apt to rule the head. Were it otherwise, the divorce courts probably would have nothing to do. In this particular matter the King, as thousands of his subjects possibly have done in ■ similar circumstances in their humbler environment, appears to have lost his sense of proportion. In the interests of the Throne as an institution, and of that great Commonwealth of which it is the king-pin, it is extremely important at this juncture that the people should keep theirs.

The present is pre-eminently an occasion for calm and reasoned judgment. The King’s hold upon the public’s affection has been accomplished largely through his amiable personality and his reputation for sincere humanitarianism. But these attributes alone do not constitute reasons why his proposed marriage should not be subject to criticism, or disallow the argument that an alliance which is so obviously in conflict with the fitness of things should be condemned, even if there should be attached to this condemnation the loss to the Throne of a well-beloved personality. Many people may consider that a compromise of some kind would be preferable to what they would regard as an Imperial calamity. This possibility has not been overlooked. Supposing such a compromise were possible as would enable him to retain the Throne while at the same time permitting a morganatic marriage with the object of his affections: Is it conceivable that the damage already done to the prestige of the Throne, plus the continuing damage of the marriage, could be repaired by the sheer force of the King’s personality?

Admittedly society has travelled far from the rigid conventions of Victorianism. But although convention may impinge harshly upon particular cases, and may therefore seem tyrannical and unfair, it nevertheless derives its sanctions from human experience. It represents a substantial agreement of the opinion of its time upon what is right and proper. In these modern days of revolutionary thinking and downright expression the social conventions are constantly assailed. If, however, their foundations are sapped, the legal structure of society as we know it may be in danger of collapsing. Law and convention are complementary expressions of society’s will, and a reflection of its standards of conduct. Those who deride convention overlook the fact that socially it has an important protective quality.

Any compromise having as its object the retention of King Edward as Sovereign, and the gratification of his matrimonial aspirations, must in effect defy existing convention. Putting all sentiment aside—though it has to be admitted that it is public sentiment that makes and hardens conventions—the fact which remains is that a compromise of this kind would come upon a very large section of the British public unprepared for what it would involve. These lines are written without knowledge of what the final outcome of the discussions now proceeding may be, but public sentiment for the King notwithstanding, there are only two possible conclusions to this vital matter—renunciation or abdication.