THE NEW MONARCH

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 112, 13 May 1937, Page 5

THE NEW MONARCH

POPULAR IN ENGLAND

AN AMERICAN APPRAISAL

The imminence of the Coronation, to be followed 'by the. retirement of Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin and a shake-up in the Cabinet, combines with domestic shocks lately experienced to give more 'han conversational . interest to the theme that is continually cropping up, writes Anne O'Hare McCormick from'- London to the "New York Times."

It is unusual to find soul-searching going on in England, but developments abroad and recent events at Home cause thoughtful Britons to reappraise their traditional institutions and reexamine their system of Government and the bases of its stability. With singular unanimity they may be heard expressing distrust of brilliant personal performances in politics. Political personalities are at a discount. People prefer a dull team that can work together to an administration dominated by outstanding figures.

Certainly the present Government contains no towering giants, and the English persuade themselves that the type of monarch they really like is the shy, retiring young man about to be crowned rather than the once adored Prince Charming they have lost., SUSPICION OF LEADERS. This is not merely an example of thu good old British custom of making the best of what they have. Neighbour ing dictators have, deepened a latent popular suspicion of headers in particular and in general. President Roosevelt, for: instance, would still be admired for his own sake, even if he wen not the ruler of a "sister democracy,", now unprecedentedly popular in England. But the British desire no Roosevelt of their own. They pretend to like a more anonymous Government—a "front bench" where one Minister is indistinguishable from the next. They are even a bit dubious about Premier Leon Blum of France because they fear he. stands too far above the level of French politicians. Winston Churchill is a case in point. Hi- friends and enemies agree that 'At. Churchill is a brilliant if erratic geuius whose' brilliance, they say, has spoiled his chances of becoming Prime Minister. . Stars of Mr. Churchill's magnitude shine not at home but abroad, particularly in France, where his passionate partisanship-is useful in times of strain. Of the characters and personalities once animating British political history, he remains almost the only living example. - King George is another case in point. It is very interesting to watch the build-up of this young monarch emerging from the background into the fiercest white light; beating on any man alive.- Hitler, Stalin, and Mussolini live hidden lives compared with this symbolic figure in the world's richest pageant. The Coronation exaggerates the pageantry, but the symbol has to go on symbolising all the time for his earth-girdling public. "A FAMILY MAN." As carefully and methodically as the grandstands are .erected for the Royal procession two months hence —and the Paris exposition buildings seem flimsy sketches in contrast with these solid structures —the picture of a reliable family man is being superimposed on the image of the wilful, adventurous boy so long imprinted on fhe popular imagination. . This may be another instance of cutting your'coat to fit the cloth or ah attempt to restore a familiar pattern by dressing up George VI in the coat of George V. Mainly it is meant to reassure the people that the new King is a nice, ordinary fellow, guaranteed to remain a symbol within the constitutional frame and to wear his crown without assuming power or independence. Recently this correspondent met a friend who had just spent forty minutes in conversation with the King. During this forty minutes George VI talked easily and stammered slightly only twice. He manifested nervous but humorous appreciation of ,the demands and limitations of his role. The visitor had been on familiar terms with the two preceding sovereigns. "George V I found a little too brusque," he said; "Edward a little too anxious to please, but George VI is simple, human, and to my mind ths most likable of the three." The talk concerned plans for the Coronation. The King dreads most beinj, the cynosure of all eyes, stared at for hours on end in parade. "How does one keep smiling solidly for five solid hours?" he asked; Speaking of the long ceremony in Westminster Abbey, he remarked: "Not only must you be letter perfect with your lips, but with your feet. If you turn left instead of right or sLep back instead of forward you throw the whole show out of gear." - King George is amused at descriptions of himself in the Press. The' King as described by the visitor is the kind of monarch his pepole will approve, if they mean what they say when they discuss the Throne, during these pre-Coronation days. Apparently he dons his Royal robes conscientiously but with a sense of humour. fects Is to be found in the recent visits of General Goering to Poland and Foreign Minister yon Neurath to Vienna. The former had some good hunting and bagged game after many failures, but his -talks with Polish leaders, according to credible accounts, brought nothing to his game bag. Neurath was virtually rebuffed as he tried to get further concessions to the Austrian Nazis. Even the moderate German's In Czechoslovakia have made- a truce with the Government and crippled the intrigue to start a revolution which might lead to Reich intervention. There are signs that Hitler would like to follow the moderates. His decision to back away from the Spanish fire without throwing it around in Europe is evidence that he has heeded the advice of the moderate militarists. The efforts of Ribbentrop to get some arrangement with Britain are another strong indication. But there is a most perplexing problem of face-saving. The leader has committed himself to the idea of war as a means of getting what Germany wants. He has committed himself to a virtual boycott of Russia as the centre of Communism. He has also committed himself ' to the Four-year Plan as the ; means of salvation for the Reich. His spokesmen proclaim that he will never compromise on the right of his country to arm as it sees fit or on Russia. Some face-saving formula will have- to be found under which he might ordp a retreat and make it sound like a victory. If he could gel some colonies that might be the solution. But nobody is willing to give him any, least of all the British. Now the plan is to give him the "open door" to the possession of others. Under stress, he may find this sufficient. And so he may co-operate for peace.