SECRETS OF HIS LIFE

Evening Star, Issue 22620, 12 April 1937, Page 12

SECRETS OF HIS LIFE

MR J. H. THOMAS BALMORAL INCIDENTS Incidents arising from his personal relationships with King George V. and other Royal reminiscences, the inside history of “ Black Friday,” which ended the great coal stoppage of 1921, tho railway strikes of 1911 and 1920 the “ blunder ” strike, as he calls the latter—and the anxieties of trade union leaders during the general strike of 1926, are all frankly related by Mr J. H. Thomas in his book, ‘ My Story,’ states the ‘ Daily Telegraph.’ To the circumstances of his resignation from the Cabinet and the House of Commons last year he refers only in the dedication to his wife. “ The circumstances in which I have written it—the passing through of what was probably the greatest trial experienced by any public man, humiliated by a morbid and sensational Press, even the privacy of home life not remaining sacred and secret from idle gossipers and lying tongues—all these have naturally made me sad; yet, sincerely I hope they have not embittered my pen.” In the chapter, “My Views on Sport,” Mr Thomas remarks that he never went to the races when Parliament was sitting. “It would not be true to say that, on the whole, I won . . . but I certainly do not take any narrow or prejudiced view about even gambling.” As an illustration of King George V.’s regard for his people, Mr Thomas tells of an incident occurring in the last year of the reign, when the King intimated he was not disposed to continue his Christmas broadcasts. “We who were in comparatively close contact with him,” writes Mr Thomas, “ were aware of his physical weakness , . . and we did not associate the intimation with anything more significant than a desire to be relieved of an onerous duty.” WHEN THE KING LAUGHED. Mr Thomas, as Dominions Secretary, obtained an audience, and told the King that thousands of Britons in far corners of the Empire would be bitterly disappointed if he did not broadcast as usual. “In my department,” he said, “ there are hundreds of letters from settlers, emigrants, lonely Britons far from home,”, and he asked to be allowed to send for some of the letters.

“ King George read many of the letters; then, with a simple nod of the head, said: ‘ Very well. These letters are sufficient justification.. Let the arrangements,for the broadcast go forward.’ ”

King George, he recalls, “ loved a good story, and encouraged me to relate to him any that might bring a smile.” He speaks of an incident just before the Thanksgiving service held following the King’s serious illness in 1929. On the day before the service Mr Thomas was Minister in Attendance, and saw the King for the first time after his illness.

“ During this interview Lord Dawson entered the room and conveyed to me a hint that it was time to go lest the King should be fatigued. King George waved him aside, saying: ‘ No, no; I am quite all right.’ A story was told by me; to-day I have a vision of the Royal invalid rocking with laughter like a schoolboy.” Another intimate story, told of the late King concerns an occasion when Mr Thomas was in attendance at Balmoral. The King, he says, “ was in reminiscent mood, very calm of demeanour and communicative.”

They were sitting by the lake when the King said: “ Many years ago I was sitting on this very seat with my grandmother, Queen Victoria, when she turned to me and said: ‘ George, when I am dead.they will say all manner of wicked things about your . father, I want you to deny them. I' want you to let it be known in every possible way what a good son he was, and how I did not, until the lapse of many years, appreciate his real value.’ ” Life at Balmoral _Mr Thomas describes as “ a lesson in quiet dignity.” “ There were certain customs King George insisted on observing, and took inestimable pride in the observing. Guests, for instance, were advised at 8 o’clock to prepare for breakfast when they heard the sound of pipers striding round the castle. . . . Luncheon was a quiet, simple, and dignified affair, with the King always pleasant and delighted to exchange observations with his guests. . . . Dinner was naturally more ostentatious. At this ceremony the pipers entered the room and marched round the table.” “ BLACK FRIDAY ” SECRETS. In his account of “ Black Friday ” Mr Thomas describes the anxious period when the leaders of the railway and transport unions, which, with the miners, formed the Triple Alliance, sought a way out of the deadlock to avoid bringing out their own unions. After long conferences “ the two_ executives then debated the whole situation, and on the motion of a representative of the transport workers we decided to call off the strike. It is only fair to say that I myself strongly supported this course, which was an almost unanimous decision.

“ There,” he adds, “ you have what I may call the inner. history of the ‘ Black Friday ’ affair. I was made the scapegoat; I had to bear with the hideous innuendoes that came from all quarters. I was assailed on every hand as a 1 traitor.’ Even to-day, in 1936, I am still receiving postcards and letters bearing no more than this question: ‘ What about Black Friday? ’ ”

As Secretary for the Dominions Mr Thomas had several encounters with Mr de Valera, of whom he tells one characteristic story. During one of their discussions he learned from a “ simple incident the strength of his character.”

“ Observing that he neither drank nor smoked, I said, in a jocular manner, ‘ I gather, Mr President, that you have no petty vices. You don’t even smoke.’ ‘ No, Mr Thomas,’ he said, with a smile, ‘ you English are responsible for that. You may remember that on one occasion—memorable to me—l was arrested and taken to Lincoln _ gaol. Just before we arrived at the prison I said to the policeman who was in charge of me that I would like a cigarette. He had no objection, so I lit one. Then, looking at the _ cigarette, I mused; I suppose the British intend to hang me, and this will be my last cigarette. If, however, I should get out of this gaol, I will never have another cigarette, so that I can retain the memory of this one. As you know, I did get out, and I have not smoked tobacco since.’ ”