Has Position Been Ameliorated?

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 288, 5 December 1936, Page 5

Has Position Been Ameliorated?

King’s Desire to Marry

Mrs Simpson

No Public Statement Yet

Interested Parties Confer United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. Received Friday, 9.30 p.m. LONDON, Dec. 4. The King’s movements last evening were closely guarded by police motor-cyclists. About 7.30 p.m. they ordered all motorists to get well clear of the gates. Then the guards swung the barrier at the side entrance aside, and the King’s black saloon car emerged, travelling at great speed. Simultaneously the State car swiftly drove out of the main gates towards London. The occupant was unknown, but, according to one account, it was Mrs. Simpson. Meanwhile throngs assembled at Buckingham Palace in the hope of seeing his Majesty, but the police continually kept them moving. The King drove in a side gate. The crowd waited two hours and did not know of his arrival until a police announcement, whereupon the people dispersed. The Duke of York arrived shortly before the King and went to His Majesty’s private room, where he awaited his brother, with whom he had a 20 minutes’ conversation, after which he drove to Marlborough House. Previously the Duke and Duchess of York had over an hour’s conference with the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and the Duke and Duchess of Kent. The next visitor to the Palace in a series of dramatic consultations was Mr. Stanley Baldwin, whose face was grave and set when he departed later. The King’s car shortly afterwards flashed through the gates on a visit to Queen Mary. The King returned to the Palace at 11.23 p.m., after remaining with Queen Mary for 40 minutes. The King eventually left the Palace at 1.30 a.m. by car for Fort Belvedere. Thus ended what the Daily Mail describes as the strangest day the nation has known for over a century, when the Crown became the centre of a tense constitutional situation and the monarch’s matrimonial affairs were agitating the nation, as when Ki-ng George IV refused to recognise his wife, Princess Caroline, as Queen. Nevertheless the nation’s attitude to his Majesty was indicated at an Albert Hall meeting, where 7000 sang “God save the King” with more than usual fervour. Then, when the last organ note died, there was a great shout, ‘ ‘ Three cheers for the King!” and again, “God bless him,” followed by wave upon wave of cheering.

There was a similar scene at St. James ’ Theatre on the first night of a new comedy. The band initially played the National Anthem and a distinguished audience broke into spontaneous applause, which continued for some time. The Labour Mayor of Nottingham, Cr. Purser, speaking at a function, said: “I was almost laid flat by the serious news revealed to-day. We are all hoping for the best, and perhaps we never shall emphasise more the second word of our national cry, ‘God save the King.”

The Daily Mail states: “Mrs. Simpson has not left England. A passage for her and her aunt, Mrs. Merryman, was booked on the Channel boat from Dover to Dunkirk, but was cancelled at the last moment.