TOPICS OF THE TIMES

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXI, Issue 4953, 9 February 1937, Page 4

TOPICS OF THE TIMES

Press Taboo. “One reason why the controversy between the King and his Ministers has had so stunning an effect in Great Britain is the fact that the British Press so long made the subject taboo. A defence of this reticence is offered by the Manchester Guardian. It explains that British newspapers were well aware of the gathering crisis, but felt it to be of such intense ‘gravity’ that it could not be discussed or referred to. This is a queer reason, all the queerer on account of the source from which it comes. One can recall several grave British crises, such as the Boer War and the outbreak of the Great War, in which the Manchester Guardian did not feel compelled to remain silent. On the contrary, it thought itself under obligation to inform the people of the fact and to endeavour to lead them to sound decisions regarding national policy. This time it held its tongue for months. New York Times. Hereditary IMonarohy. ‘Hereditary monarchy—as we all realise by this time as we never realised before —is an extraordinary instrument for symbolising and concentrating the national idea. It is almost self-perpetuating. It works beautifully and automatically most of the time. We should not complain too bitterly, then, if it gave us a little trouble during the past few weeks. Evidence has been given of one thing which is more important and cheering than is necessary to offset the trouble. It has been shown that the Empire possesses the necessary statesmanship to get the system wound up and started again when a hitch comes in the running. Eventually it may become necessary to agree on another symbol. The hereditary monarchy may go, not because the British people would want to get rid of crowns and thrones as they have gone elsewhere, but because there may develop a growing reluctance among members of the Royal Family to take on an almost intolerable burden,” — Ottawa Citizen,