An Unanimous Press

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 287, 4 December 1936, Page 7

An Unanimous Press

‘‘WILL NOT CHOOSE FOR HIMSELF ALONE”

Received Thursday, 9.50 p.m. LONDON, Doc. 2. The Daily Telegraph, in a leader, says: ‘‘The Kiug won’t choose for himself alone, but also for the monarchy and the Empire, for the Crown, it must not be forgotten, is now the sole visible link of tho Empire. Nobody knows better than he what the Empire stands for or has more deeply appreciated the ever-swelling volumo of affection and loyalty of its peoples. ‘‘lt cannot be supposed that he would hesitate to put those august permanent interests beforo personal feelings which, however deeply they concern his personal happiness, are in that respect strictly private and not national or Imperial.”

“As Duke of Cornwall” The News-Chronicle, in a, leader, says: “The personality of the Queen of England is obviously a matter of great importance, both to Britain and the Empire, for if the monarchy is to persist as the symbol of unity of the British people’s loyalty to the Throne, they must maintain a great element of personal respect for those sitting on the Throne. . “The public would wish to see the King marry and, if possible, marry an Englishwoman. There are many who would not desire to se6 as the Queen of England a woman who had previously been, married. There are also some who would object to an American citizen occupying that high rank. “Cabinet must take the responsibility for expresing to the King the public opinion on these points, but if the decision is adverse, and if the King is sufficiently in love to persist in his intention, the public would, we think, wish he should marry a woman of his choice, hut in his capacity of the Duke of Cornwall, J

‘‘His wife’s position would then bo that of the King’s consort and not Queen of England. Moreover, if his Majesty wore to acquiesce in Parliament's passing an Act barring from the Throne any issue of his marriage, thus leaving the existing succession to the Throne unchanged, that would overcome many scruples and make the suggestion of a constitutional crisis quite unnecessary.

“We believe the people of the Empiro would welcome a solution which would promote the King’s personal happiness and not jeopardise the dynastic succession, and leave tho prestigo tradition of the monarchy unimpaired.”

“ Veiy Serious Words ” IMPERIAL ASPECT OF BISHOP’S SPEECH LONDON, Dec, 2. Though all the London morning papers published the Bishop of Bradford’s speech, none of (hem commented editorially on it, and only the NewsChronicle in its later editions reproduced the provincial papers’ editorial comments. The Birmingham Post states: “The Bishop of Bradford’s words are words of reproof such as nobody, whether cleric or layman, has thought proper to address to a King of England for many a long day. They are not uecessurily to be condemned on that account as mere impertinence, but a large section of tho English pcoplo which neither reads American newspapers nor listens to such gossip as runs around tho purlieus of tho Court will inevitably ask to-day what they mean, and may be inclined further to inquire why the sentiment to which unquestionably the Bishop gave perfectly correct expression should not have been made known to his Majesty by some person even mor© fully authorised than himself to speak in the name of the Church of England. ' ’ The Nottingham Journal states: “The constitutional relationship of tho. Dominions to the King gives added point to the very serious words of the Bishop of Bradford. Never since the days of unpopularity of Queen Victoria has anything been spoken so seriously in public to a British Sovereign thaq this Imperial aspect of a problem which now outweighs all others.” __ The Manchester. Guardian said /that

the issue is the King’s readiness to be guided by the Prime Minister in all matters which may affeet the welfare of (he British Commonwealth. ‘‘Of the validity of that principle there is no doubt, nor can one think that the present King, mindful as he is of the nationally-beloved example of his father, would in any way seek to disturb the relations between the monarch and his Ministers as they existed during the 25 years of King George's reign. ” Recalling (he King’s affection for his father, the paper says: ‘‘Few things brought (lie present Sovereign nearer the hearts of the British people than the unannounced and unobtrusive vigil he and his brothers kept in Westminster Hall tho night before the King’s funeral. With the life of his father as an example, and the advice of his Ministers as a guide, King Edward, who came to the Throne supported by immense reserves of good will from people of this and other countries of the Commonwealth, can hardly fail in tho always onerous and responsible task of kingship.”

Bishop’s Denial DID NOT HE FBI?, TO KING’S PRIVATE LIFE Eeceh ed Thursday, 7.5 p.in. LONDON, Dec. 2. A strong denial that his references to the King were in the least intended as a rebuko was made by the Bishop of Bradford after reading newspaper comments. He said: “Only one phrase in the whole ot' what I said could be considered as a criticism of the King. That was when I said, ‘Some of us wish he would give more positive signs of his awareness.' What I referred to was the fact that, to all outward appearance, the King seems to live entirely indifferently to the public practice of religion. He may have a private religion of his own. That X know nothing about, but he does hot show the world that he has got one, and I think that is a pity. “With regard to these rumours circulating about him, I may as well say that my address was written six weeks before I first heard anything of them. I studiously took care to say nothing regarding the King’s private life, because I know nothing about it,”