Manawatu Evening Standard. TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 1940. DUKE’S APPOINTMENT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 218, 13 August 1940, Page 6

Manawatu Evening Standard. TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 1940. DUKE’S APPOINTMENT.

Widespread interest lias followed the appointment of the Duke of Windsor as Governor and Com-mander-in-Chief of the Bahama Islands in the West Indies. The people of that Empire outpost were distinctly pleased when it was learned that the King had been pleased to give his Royal brother this post, however modest it may be'. The German occupation of Paris deprived the Duke of Windsor of his Continental home, but he was able to make his way southwards to Lisbon where he remained until the voyage to the West Indies. Naturally he suffered severely when the engulfing hordes swept over the country which had become his home, but life in the Bahamas will afford him the restful atmosphere not to be regarded as unwelcome after the stirring events of June. The people of Hamilton gave expression to their feelings when the Duke arrived last week to take up his post. It was a spontaneous tribute to a man who had once been their King, and who is remembered for his kindly interest in his subjects in th'e brief period he was on the Throne. No doubt too he was pleased to be ashore again on Empire soil after his four years of exile on the Continent, broken only when, after war broke out, he went to England at once to offer his services to his country. The Bahamas are a popular holiday place for American people, many of whom also have expressed their pleasure at the Duke’s appointment. Acceptance of administrative duties within the Empire recalls the Duke’s words on laying aside the Crown. “It may be some time before I return to my native land,” he said in his memorable last broadcast from the Tower of Windsor, “but I shall always follow the fortunes of the British race and the Empire with profound interest, and if at any time in the future I can be of service to His Majesty in a private station I shall not fail. This pledge was honoured when the war broke out last September and Britain accepted the Duke of Windsor’s services, with an appointment as liaison officer to the British and French forces on the Continent. The rank of majorgeneral was conferred upon himand the contacts he made with the men of all ranks showed that he still retained his marked popularity. however much his influence had waned in the intervening years. Though little was actually heard of the Duke’s work his knowledge of France and her people must have been of benefit to the British Command, and could hardly fail to have been appreciated. Opportu-

nity for further service came with the appointment as Governor of the Bahamas, and the qualities he showed as Prince of Wales, and which made him a most popular personage wherever he went, either within or without the Empire, will without doubt earn him many friends in his new life.