PLEA FOR PATIENCE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 7, 7 December 1936, Page 7

PLEA FOR PATIENCE

MR CHURCHILL OUTSPOKEN. CABINET VIEW OPPOSED. STRAIN ON KING. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copy right.) LONDON, Dec. 5. Various voices have been raised in opposi lion to tho Government’s attitude in tho British crisis. Of those Air Winston Churchill’s statement is tho most prominent. It says: “1. plead for time and patience. The nation must realise the character of tho constitutional issue. There is no question of a conflict between the King and Parliament, which has not been consulted and not allowed to express an opinion. The question is whether the King is to abdicate on the advice of the Alinistry, but no such advice has previously been given a Sovereign. It is a case of a wish being expressed by the Sovereign to perform an act which cannot bo accomplished for nearly livo months, and may conceivably never be accomplished.

“No Alinistry has authority to advise abdication. Cabinet has no right to prejudge such a question without previously at least ascertaining Parliament’s will. Parliament would also fail entirely in its duty if it allowed abdication without" taking all precautions to ensure that these processes will not he repeated with an equal uncanny facility at no distant date in unforseen circumstances. If it be true that the King proposal, legislation which Afinisters were not prepared to introduce the Ministers’ answers should not be to call for abdication but to refuse the King’s request, which thereon becomes inoperative. Tl the King refuses his Ministers’ ndvicc they are free to resign. They have no right whatever to press tho King to accept their advice by previously soliciting assurances from the Loader of tho Opposition that he "ill not form an alternative administration, thereby confronting the King with tin ultimatum. 5 ’

Air Churchill adds in conclusion: “’There is tho human and personal asr ct. The King has for many weeks been under tho greatest mental and moral strain. Surely if he asks time to consider the advice now that matters have been brought to this culmination he should not bo denied, llie King has not the means of personal access to Parlituncnt anti the people. His Ministers stand between him and them. The Ministers must be careful not to be judge of their own case. If abdication is hastily extorted the outrage so committed would cast a shadow across many chapters in the history of tho British Empire.” Air C. R. Attlee, leader of the Parliamentary Labour Party, when shown Mr Churchill’s references, said there was no foundation for such a statement. MARRIAGE OF CHOICE. The News-Chronicle regards Mr Baldwin’s statement as increasing tho gravity of a situation in which peisonal, ‘constitutional, and political elements are inextricably intermingled. “There is, however, a strong and growing desire that the King should marry the woman of his choice when she is free to marry him, but that she should not ho Queen If such a solution is possible, the public will sigh with relief.” Three aldermen and six councillors at Northampton and Air R. T. i a K e "> Labour candidate, telegraphed All Attlee urging him to form a Government if invited as a relusal would be contrary to workers’ interests. A copy of the telegram was sent to tho King. Mr Paget, addressing a meeting which cheered the King, said: “Tins King is a King. Let’s show him real mends who are going to stand by him. Sir Stafford Cripps, speaking at Hanley, said: “Questions of propriety suggested in view of tho lady s previous history are insufficiently important politically to entitle Cabinet to force abdication. Tho King is old enough to know his own mind. It is his marriage, not a robots. \\ e would have liad no discussion if the lady in question had been an English aristocrat. Under precisely similar circumstances quite a different decision would bo reached. Lord Rothermore said: Aon cant smuggle the greatest living Englishman from tho Throne during a weekend which a concerted effort is being made to do. I have just, returned from a trip round tlio world. »?r----ever I went people of all nationalities expressed unstinted praiso and admiration for the King. The present indecent haste is producing unpleasant rumours affecting high political and other personages.” ‘‘CABINET’S TACTLESSNESS.” The Sunday Dispatch says: “There is an uneasy feeling that Cabinet s tactlessness has forced the country into a false relationship with tho King.” It urges that the Ivmg should follo.w the example of his father, who successfully composed critical questions of State by summoning outside advisers. It is understood that Conservative members of the House of Commons met in the smoking room of the House after the adjournment and decided to send a personal letter to the Kinn- assuring him of their support m any action he might think necessary to’defend his constitutional rights. The movement is described as more or less collective. Other parties wore approached but the result is not 10vealed. It is believed that the Conservatives included young members of the party usually associated with Mr Churchili. . ~ The Daily Telegraph, in a leading article, apparently referring to the Al.P.’s letter to the King, says it would be utterly deplored if jvhat used to be called the “King’s Party” showed even the faintest signs of emergence alter a lapse ol 150 years, and "would lead to moie dangerous constitutional crises. Xn an address to the Foreign Policy Association, Lord Marlcv, who is visiting New York, said: “l see no reason why the King’s marriage should bo a public act. The Queen occupies no official position. No doubt the power the Government has gained and gains has been at the expense of the King. It may well he this power is carrying us near a dictatorship. I have cabled to England that I support the King in any matter touching his right to marry, which is a private allair.”