KING’S THANKS

Grey River Argus, 10 May 1935, Page 5

KING’S THANKS

FOR JUBILEE TRIBUTES Dominion Premiers’ Replies (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, May 8. The Kiner’s thanks to the nations of the world were expressed at a levee which His Alajesty held at St. James’s Palace. A crowd of ten thousand waited for several hours outside the Palace and a further six thousand lined the ATall as the King, bareheaded, wearing an Admiral’s full dress uniform, the Queen and the Duke of Gloucester in a ear, drove at wa’king pace to St. James’ Palace. They were enthusiastically cheered. Their Alajesties smilingly waved acknowledgements.

Upon reaching St Janies, Their Alajesties were conducted to the white and gold Throne room, where other members of the Royal Family were grouped round the Throne. •Diplomats representing the whole world in addition to Dominion Premiers, and representatives were acsembled. At least 20,000 assembled outside the Palace during the levee and wild ing cheered and waved hats and handkerchiefs as Their Alajesties departed. Air Lyons, presenting His Majesty with the Parliamentary addresses, said: Australia’s loyalty to the Throne and you in person is not lessened by the distance separating us. I assure Your Majesty that as far as Australia is concerned, never has there been greater devotion and respect to the head of the Empire. Your life has been an inspiration to all your subjects. The dignity, courage, wisdom and self-sacrifice shown during the 25 years of your reign have been an example worthy to be followed by every Briton. I humbly and sincerely tender Your Alajesty this message of loyalty from one of your most distant Dominions. It is a message of love as much as loyalty. It is a message of pride that wo are able to share in the glory of your reign.

Mr Forbes, speaking on behalf of New Zealand said: You led your people through unprecedented difficulties. The unity of the Empire, and the prominent position it holds, are mainly due to your leadership and inspiration. New Zealanders preserve indebible memories of the noble courage and self-sacrifice of Your Alajesties, and other members of the Royal Family in the dark days of the war. Your unfailing sympathy to all sections of the sore’y tried people later has been a comfort during the depression. New Zealanders desire to be worthy in every respect of the race from which they sprang. I pray that you and the Queen may long be spared to guide the destinies of the Empire.

The King, replying to the Dominion representatives said: I am gladdened when friends from overseas say when visiting England, they are coming Home. The Queen and I meet you in that spirit and greet the Prime Ministers of the Dominions now as equal partners in the Empire, and thank them for addresses from their Parliament s. Members of the Dominion were deeply touched by the intensity of feeling in His Alajesty’s speech in reply to the addresses. Air Lyons was the only Empire statesman who did not road his speech. He relied entirely on memory, which was a gathering. He delivered tthe oration severe test at such a ceremonial without a hitch. Congratulations on behalf of the Diplomatic Corps were presented by the Doyen Senator Regis de O'iviera, Brazilian Ambassador, by the Empire Prime Alinisters and India, through Air Ramsay MacDonald, and on behalf of the Colonial Empire by Sir Philip Cunliffe Lister. The most striking phrase in the King’s address to the diplomats was: “I heard it i.s rumoured among your colleagues that my Capital is a great ]y coveted post.’’ The King said that he and the Queen were deeply touched by the warmth and sincerity of their good wishes and “I pray' to God that the unity of purpose which brought you here to-day may be a symbol of enduring peace in the world at large.’’ The King prefaced his reply to the Empire with a welcome to their representatives. “AVe welcome one and all to our home. Eventful your visit cannot fail to be. I trust that it will be happy also, and that when the time comes for your return, I would ask you to take back, each to his own peo pie, a message of affection to every’ member of this great family, of which / am so proud and thankful to be the head, and a message of deep gratitude for the loyal kind words which you have spoken on their behalf. Before I succeeded my father, the Queen and I had the privilege of studying at firsthand the Dominions overseas, and India. We were fellow-travellers then , as now, comparing notes and sharing 1 impressions. We treasure these memories, and keep them alive. Moreover, what we forget our four sons are now able to recall. Many years before our happy partnership began, I had, as a midshipman, sailed the seven seas. I realised early that the Empire has many climes, but one spirit. I regard this as a unique gathering, where we can tell one another of our successes, and also of our failures and mistakes, but there will be no sharp criticism nor vain regrets for we are in sympathy with one another, conscious that we have acted according to our rights, for the good name and ordered prosperity of the family. AVe are sometimes told that we are lac-king in logic, that our political institutions are loose and undefined, but I look back on the trying and testing time through w’hich we passed, and wonder whether a less flexible system would have withstood the strains to which we have been subjected. With commonsense and goodwill as our shield and buckler, wc kept in spite of all difficulties, our heritage of liberty alike for theindividual and for our many constituent races. The numberless and invisible ties of sentiment and tradition which bind us together are indeed delicate, but many strands make the cable strong to bind in times of adversity. It is my prayer, no less than by firm belief, that this bond of spirit may prove also a bond of peace. Some of you are, with a few happy exceptions, about my own age. I pray for the continuance of God’s blessing on your labours. With His help, I will work on with you in the years that remain, for that object, which has ever been next, my heart—the welfare of the Mother Country, of the Dominions overseas, and of India, their happiness and good repute.” BERLIN, May 8. ► The King, replying to Herr Hitler’s

message said: I am especially grate ful for the friendly reference to the efforts of myself and Government in the interests of peace. The cause of peace is extremely dear to me, and is the constant aim of my Government. I reciprocate your good wishes for the success of this cause. T trust I express not only the feelings of my people, but those of the whole civilised world. ALBERT HALL GATHERING . (Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn.) LONDON, May 8. Albert Hall contained eight thousand and might have been filled five times w.ilh those desirous of attending the united Jubilee thanksgiving organised by the World’s Evangelical Alliance. Fifty clerics and Salvationists surrounded the Duke of Kent on the platform. Sir J. Parr, Earl Stradbroke and Sir W. Birdwood wore ])resent. The fervent singing of the National Anthem, led by the choir of a thousand, accompanied by the gigantic organ, shook the roof. The Bishop of Norwich, who presided. said it was a family festival of the whole Empire and was unequalled in history. The Duke of Kent read a message from the King acknowledging the audience’s telegram of loyalty. lie cited, the King’s utterance that the foundations of national glory were set. in the homes of the people. Bishop Taylor Smith offered a prayer of thanksgiving for Their Alajesties’ unceasing service to the Empire. Sir W. Birdwood read the Lesson. Lord Bledisloe testified Io New Zealand’s loyal tv.

The Bishop of Norwich termi naled a moving meeting with an act of homage in the form of an Empire call to thanksgiving. PARLIAMENTARY ADDRESS. (Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn.) LONDON. Afay 8. In both Houses of Parliament, a motion that a humb’e address be presented to His Majesty, to congratulate him on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of his accession to the Throne. was carried unanimously, after speeches in support from all parties.

The King will visit Westminster Hall to-morrow. Io receive the addresses.

Tn the House of Commons the Primo Alinister said that the King received in the streets of London, on Alonday a greeting which went far deeper and higher than a mere formal expression of loyalty from the people to their Sovereign. It revealed regard and appreciation, warmed by personal affection. The words which the Kin? spoke over the wireless disclosed his secret hope. The very human Sovereign had taken possession of the hearts of his people. He had worn the Crown, not only with the dignitv and distinction of a monarch, but

with the rectitude of a constitutional sovereign, solicitous to preserve the liberties of the nation and the rights of Parliament, and also with the consideration and care of one who rejoiced in his people’s joys, and sorrowed when they suffered’ There was a time when the Crown seemed to be little more than a survival of an institution—an inheritance of the past, apart from tradition, whose value was to give some measure of support to continuity in the constitutional, political and spiritual evolution of the nation. To-day, these mainly intangible justifications are supported by others of a. more, tangible character. The great Dominions have passed beyond the Colonial Stage, and AVestminster is no longer their capital city. The evolution of their nationality has made them self-governing communities. The Statute of Westminster, which sealed their freedom as States, discovered and proclaimed a bond of continuing unit? and that bond is the Crown to-day. The existence of the Crown enables the Dominion nations to be free, and still united together. In the Lords, Lords Hailsham, Ponsonby, and Reading and the Archbishop of Canterbury, spoke in support of the address of the King. Lord Ponsonby said that th rough all the troublous times the King stood as a symbol of reliability oil constancy, which was the sure reflection of the good character of the British people. The journeyings of the King” sons had increased the affection for the Roval Family throughout the Lord Reading said it was a worthy wor'd. . reflection that the expansion ot democracy in Britain led to the stiengt ening and cementing the loyalty and devotion of the people to the Throne.

LABOUR LEADER’S EULOGY. MR LLOYD GEORGE’S TIBUTE. (Received May 9, 10 p.m.) LONDON, May 9 In the House of Commons, Mr Geo. Lansburv (Labour Leader) seconded the address to the King. Tie described the King’s broadcast address on Monday as “unsurpassed in the history of monarchs.'’ That His Majesty should have remembered the unemployed on such an occasion stamped him as very human. Mr Lansburv added that- though a through and through, he alwaysbelieved in the destiny of the British people. He hoped the young men and •women of the Empire would lend the world in upholding inrlividual_nnd international freedom and liberty, and lead it away from war and from the trust therein. Mr Lloyd George, supporting the address said that there had been no more remarkable scenes in living memorv than those of tlic past few days, when there was a demonstration 1 of gratitude and deep affection for His Majesty. It was a celebration that was a triumph of democratic government, under the King’s leadership. Despite the economic depression, the condition of the people had improved and the nation’s wealth was 'ho envy of the iworld. There were few other countries and no empires of which this could be said. No wonder that people of everv class find condition universally prayed that the beneficent reign of the King would long continue. IMPERIAL SYMBOLISM. (Received Mav 9. 7.15 n-m.) LONDON, May 9. The Empire as a familv of nations is the keynote of many editorials. The “Daily Telegraph’’ describes the K'ng’s reply tn the Empire addresses as “one of the most remarkable siseeches over made bv :• British sove•■nlnni. the words of which will be quoted- not merelv bv statesmen todnv. lint the students of history eentn i, ies hence It is a famil’ar truth that the Crown is *o the Empire. Now we know what the Empire is to the Crown. It is a family

alliance for the maintenance of common ideals.” SOVEREIGNS CHEERED. BY CROWD OF FIFTY THOUSAND. (Received May 9, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, May 8. Loyal fervour again rose to the highest pitch among fifty thousand assembled at Buckingham Palace, where the King and Queen appeared on the balcony, causing the crowd to surge across the road waving hats and umbrellas. The Duke of Gloucester joined his parents, and the trio remained for ten minutes bowing and waving to the crowd. The West End traffic was congested as an ever-endless stream of vehicles was moving at a snail’s pace. “DOWN AND OUTS” ENTERTAINED. (Received May 9, 8 p.m.) LONDON. May 9. Miss Betty Baxter, a clergyman’s grand-daughter, aged twenty-three-and known as the “Silver Lady of the ’Embankment,” gave a dinner to six hundred “down and out” men and women* at Westminster Hall. The King, upon learning that the six hundred wore drinking Their Majesties’ health in tea. telegraphed his thanks. As they left tlm hall each man and woman was given a ticket for a free bed and breakfast. Miss' Baxter maintains a free coffee stall in Trafalgar Square, which nightly i s a Godsend to the destitute.