PUBLIC OPINION

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 63, 8 December 1936, Page 11

PUBLIC OPINION

Correspondents’ Views on Constitutional Issue KING’S DUTY TO HIS PEOPLE (To the Editor.) Sir, —Your editorial, which displeased a few of your readers, was to me perfectly right as regards the sentiment of otir people here. Could a Queen with two living husbands command respect? No, It would be impossible for ns to “bow the knee” to such a person. King Edward has a duty,, to his people; but if lie prefers a woman to his responsibilities as our King and to the Empire, let him go; tlie Empire will, I trust, still go on. I recall the poignant words of our late King, "How is the Empire?” They make me realise that even though at present we are together. how easy it would be to become divided.—l am. etc.. A WOMAN OF NEW ZEALAND The Throne a Focus of the Respect of Family Units Sir, —Ask the women of the Empire about the constitutional crisis! How pleasant, how it would add to the gaiety of nations, to have two private gentlemen spoken of as the Queen of England’s No. 1, and No. 2! How romantic! If King Edward abdicates, there is no need for pity—he would still be an exceedingly wealthy gentleman of leisure. with the woman he loves. Leave the Throne to those who would quietly and with dignity hold it as the focus of the respect of the family units of the Empire, without which there would be no Common wealth of British Nations. I am. etc.. BLEB. Lower Hutt, December 7. Great and Deep Disappointment Sir,—l have been asked to write you by a group of friends expressing our great and deep disappointment in our King. Even if he decided to stay on the Throne under the conditions imposed by Cabinet, we will not have the same feeling of love and respect for -him, nor will there be the same feeling of lovalty or of security, which is the backbone of the British Empire in these serious and troubled times. We need someone who in himself is kingly and true, someone, who says, “I could not love you, dear, so much, loved T not honour more.”—l am, etc., LOYAL BRITISHER. Lyall Bay, December 7. Let’s Not Judge Too Harshly Where We Cannot See Sir,—ln these dark days what are the feelings of the people of the greatest Empire the world has ever known? Are they not these? Their King and Emperor, the trusty and well-beloved Edward the Eighth, has let them down : they feel that he is not playing cricket. In spite of the fateful events of the last few days, do not let us panic; do not let us make the error of “judging too harshly, where we cannot see.” Even kings are human, and although the feelings of sadness and* disappointment that must be engendered in every loyal citizen are deep, is it not incumbent upon us to view the situation in a proper perspective, and is that perspective not this? He is our leader. He is the embodiment of everything that is great and good in our Constitution. and stands for the freedom of thought and action for which our forefathers, down the centuries, fought and died. Are we not big enough to forget and forgive; to remember the good he has done and the services he has rendered to the Empire in, perhaps, some of the darkest hours of its history? And should we not express the fervent hope that he will long continue to reign over us, in spite of everything?—l am, etc., _ JOHN CITIZEN. Gisborne, December 5. Most Popular and Humane Monarch in History Sir, —The issue which is confronting the Governments of the British Commonwealth of Nations is of paramount importance in that it oilers the choice of the continuance of our democracy under King Edward or the gradual decline of the monarchy, substituted by dictatorship. Messrs. Baldwin, Savage (whom I had believed to be possessed of understanding and wisdom), and their supporting politicians, are apparently serving the god Constitutionalism, or, in its true sense, the dead hand of time. Assuming that Mr. Baldwin does obtain that which he now desires—an abdication—with what are we confronted? The Duke of York as King, with a charming Queen and daughter as heirpresumptive. But can the Empire maintain its equilibrium-in a chaotic world with such nn untried King, with the heir-presulnptive a girl, when almost every other country is ruled by men of iron—Mussolini, Hitler, Stalin, and such others? Such a state will, I foresee, mean the decline of our democratic, monarchy. Perhaps Mr. Baldwin hopes for such, at the same time easting eyes on the coveted position of allmighty dictator? Admittedly, there may not: be any statute to allow of a marriage as proposed to the Governments by the King, but within a week such legislation could be passed, and would satisfy file majority of us. Thus, after much discussion with intelligent and understanding people, I suggest the following to be an intelligent and not perverted view on the problem:— (”1) The happiness of the King as a human individual is the first consideration. (2) King Edward is the most popular, Intelligent, humane monarch history can present. Unorthodox, where orthodoxy means stagnation and the staying of the hand of progress, he is also the greatest diplomat that Britain possesses, and without his efforts ami the consequent respect afforded him, 1 doubt whether there would not be that abomination in Europe to-day—war. (3) Every and any steps should be taken to retain him as the spearhead of the Empire, to which end spe-l

cial legislation allowing him to marry his choice with the provision that the lady be merely King’s consort, without the right to succession, should be passed. It is, indeed, a pity that Mr. Baldwin is dealing with an honest King who is travelled and experienced enough to know his own mind! Surely, such a man as the King, over forty years of age, intelligent, experienced, and shown possessed of wisdom, must be credited with having chosen wisely, and not lie temporarily, emotionally infatuated as a few people would have us believe. So in his efforts to establish another milestone in the advancement of civilisation, and democracy in particular, let us demand the long life, as King, of Edward, and down with the dictatorial methods of the present politicians, who in fifty years’ time or less will be recorded with satirical amusement in the annals of history and progress.—l am. etc., ANOTHER SUPPORTER FOR EDWARD REX. Seatoun. A Referendum the Only Proper Means of Decidingsir,— 1 quite agree with your correspondent in to-day's issue. “We Want King Edward to Remain King.” especially as a report has got about that certain powers-that-be would like to see him abdicate because he is far too democratic a King. The Parliaments of the Empire have no legal right to take any action whatsoever. They were elected merely for their economic and/ or political policies. No constitutional question ever cropped up. The whole problem is unique, and in a democratic Empire it can be solved only by the most democratic of all ways—a referendum of the British and the peoples of the self-governing Dominions. If the King’s happiness depends on his marriage with Mrs. Simpson, then his marriage with her should be welcomed. provided, of course, there is really nothing rotten in her past. A happy King is an efficient King. Until we know all details, no one has any right to judge the King’s choice. He is no child, but a widely-experienced man of the world who should, and probably does, know his own business best. Divorce—even two divorces —whatever the Church may say, is no crime, unless. of course, the party has been guilty of adultery. Ono thing is certain: None of the King’s brothers or sisters-in-law is anything like so popular as he is, and therefore none of them is likely to obtain the same loyalty. The present crisis suggests a change in the Constitution. It certainly needs altering. All the sons and daughters of the reigning

or previously-deceased Sovereign, if the reigning Sovereign .is childless, should have the same status, the same chance of coming to the Throne. The eldest should not be regarded as heir to the Throne, for the obvious reason that he—or she—might not be the most suitable for the position. The Sovereign should be elected from the late ruler’s children by an Empire-wide referendum. Even if King Edward does abdicate, it is very sincerely to be hoped that lie will enter public life—he would be able to do probably far more good with his tremendous influence than he has been able to do as a purely constitutional monarch.—l am. etc., “JACK BERRICK.” ONSET OF CRISIS Surprise in Dominions (Received December 7, 10.20 p.m.) Sydney, December 7. The "Sun” in an editorial deprecates any attempt overseas to make political capital out of a crisis shaking the Empire. It adds: "Until the British Government informed the Commonwealth Government at the end of last week of the tragic difference between the King and his Ministers the Commonwealth Government was entirely unaware of the crisis. While there was ample evidence that the first approach was from the King to the British Cabinet there is equal warrant for belief that the tirst communication from the British Government came as a complete surprise to the Governments of Canada. New Zealand and South Africa.” WHY BISHOP SPOKE Cutting Ground From Under Communists’ Feet London, December 6. The Bishop 'of Bradford told the "Sunday Graphic” that when his address of December 1 was written. “I had no knowledge of the circumstances which subsequently have arisen. Only yesterday week I heard Mrs. Simpson’s name mentioned in connection with the King’s.” He added that his intention to make the speech was confirmed by Communists circulating in Yorkshire scurrilous yellow Press statements regarding the King and Mrs. Simpson, and lie felt it was high time to cut the ground from under the feet of the Communists, who were aiming to create strife. A MAORI VIEWPOINT “No Right to Question King’s Choice” Dominion Special Service Palmerston North, December 7. An old Maori chief stated to-day that the fact that two apparently unwortljy men had been rejected by Mrs. Simpson was no justification for those who now sought to separate her from the most honoured man in the world. According to Maori custom and tradition no loyal subject had the right to question the King's choice of a life partner To do so would be regarded as an act of disloyalty punishable In death Whether the King married Mrs. Simpson or not, by his love she had under Maori custom become Queen of the Maoris.