AUSTRALIAN ATTITUDE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 10, 10 December 1936, Page 9

AUSTRALIAN ATTITUDE.

MORGANATIC MARRI AGE OPPOSED. CANBERRA, Dec. 9. When the House of Representatives met to-day the Prime Minister (Mr J. A Lyons.) briefly explained why P.u liiimcnt had been called together, mentioning the constitutional crisis arising out of the suggested marriage of His

Majesty and adding ’hat. as the position was still uncertain [lending His Majesty’s decision, Parliamentary discussion at this stage could do nothing but harm. However, he desired to inform the House that the Commonwealth Government had concurred in the decision of the British Government not to legislate for something in the nature of a morganatic marriage. Meanwhile silence in Parliament was the best contribution toward a happy solution. Mr J. Curtin, Leader of the Opposition. after asking that all the facts should be made available, said that the Labour Party insisted that there should he no coercion by Ministers of this or any other Dominion upon the King in the choosing of a wife. “The King, on the other hand, must not ask Parliament for any special legislation to suit his convenience in choosing a wife. He must choose a wife from Indies who may lawfully be married to him as the law stands and must accept the advice of his Ministers. The Opposition will leave the King unfettered in his choice of a wife, hut the King must accept full responsibility to his own conscience and the Empire ia the choice he makes. The Australia n Labour Party hopes that the King will remain on the Throne. It desires to, and will remain, loyal to him.” The House adjourned until tomorrow.