The Evening Star TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1947. THE KING AND HIS PEOPLE.

Evening Star, Issue 26029, 18 February 1947, Page 6

The Evening Star TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1947. THE KING AND HIS PEOPLE.

The British dominions have had opportunities- in the past to welcome members of the Royal Family, including future monarchs, but with strictly limited , exceptions they have not received visits from their ruling King and Queen. Improved travel facilities, and a new conception of the relation between the monarch and his people, have made it possible for George VI. to meet the people in distant parts of his Empire more readily* and special significance attaches to the present Royal visit to South Africa. The new conception of the relation of the monarch to liis people was embodied in the Statute of Westminster, which gave formal recognition to the principle that the dominions .were independent nations linked to the one Throne. And so it was as direct ruler of Canada that the King visited his dominion, in America shortly before the war, and performed for the first time in any British country outside The United Kingdom the function of opening his Parliament. . That visit was intended to be the first of a number to the dominions, but the programme was interrupted- by the war, and it will undoubtedly be with thankfulness that the people of South Africa have greeted their monarch, because the delayed visit is a reminder that crisis of war has passed, and the King can again leave for' a time the heart of his Empire. The Pacific dominions will hope that they , will be next on the list for Royal visits, and have the opportunity to greet with enthusiasm the monarch whom they welcomed 20 years ago as the Duke of York. It is a reminder of the constancy of the Throne that the King Shu visit one of his dominions at a time \vhen there is .some tension between that country and another of the King’s possessions. An outside observer might say that the visit was ill-timed, and might add feeling to the dispute between the Governments of South Africa and India, but in the British Commonwealth of Nations there is no such thing as political implication in the movements of the King. By tradition he has long since laid aside any pretensions his early predecessors might have had towards dominating their He has. surrendered to liis parliaments the function of government, but lemains a symbol for the affection and respect of the people. With succeeding generations the Royal Family has acquired greater affection and respect, and there can be few subjects under the British flag throughout'the world who would not welcome the opportunity to have their King, and Queen in their midst. The present Royal Family has captured the imagination of nil as a family typical of the people of the Empire, and they have_ done much towards cementing the unity of the British Commonwealth.

After vears of bitter struggle, during which the ' British countries stood together against great odds, the King and Queen will be specially Welcome in the dominions. In South Africa they have been greeted by that grand old warrior, General Smuts, who, once the implacable enemy of the British hag, has lived to become one of its most stalwart defenders. During the war he became not only an inspiring leader of his country, but an outstanding symbol of Empire leadership and unity. The task of governing a polyglot collection of white and coloured races such as live in South Africa is no easy one, and it is inevitable that racial disputes should develop, but in General Smuts we see a man who has done more than any other to weld together the people of his dominion. From a fiery nationalist he has become a sage leader, who lias given meaning to the Union of Sooth Africa. In his frequent visits to London during.the war he brought messages of courage to the hard-pressed people of Britain. The King and Queen are now renewing with one of their Prime Ministers a firm friendship developed in vears of adversity. and there can he little doubt that the present Royal visit to South Africa will prove a success and an inspiration to the peonle. •