King Must Decide

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 292, 10 December 1936, Page 7

King Must Decide

CABINET CAN ONLY WAIT.

Received Wednesday, 9.20 p.m. LONDON, Dec. 9.

The Times, in a leader, says: “The decision is for the King alone. No Cabinet proposal is before him. Ho has proposed a certain course of action and has been advised in constitutional form that it is impracticable. There is no reason to doubt that he has accepted this advice. The plan of a morganatic marriage is therefore abandoned and what the King has been considering is whether he shall take any other action. To take none is to acquiesce in the failure of what is known to be his heart’s desire, but no positive action ha 3 bean suggested except the one from which the whole Empire shrinks. All Ministers can do is to answer such questions a 3 the King may have to put in order that he may have the fullest possible understanding of the nature ary. consequences of any action he may choose to take.

“It is no doubt deeply distressing to Cabinet. They can do no more than this to help him. In fact they can only wait while he debates in bis own conscience the issue of which they became aware less than a fortnight ago, but which he himself must have foreseen for a very much longer period.

Soviet Treats Crisis With Respect REALISES EMPIRE’S VALUE. Received Wednesday, 7.0 p.m. LONDON, Dec. 8. The Daily Telegraph's Moscow correspondent says the newspaper Izvestia treats tho British crisis with seriousness and even respect. The presence of Soviet representatives at King George a funeral undoubtedly markedly influenced official circles here. Strongly as it contrasts with Moscow propaganda, the Soviet dictatorship under Stalin seems inclined to believe that the strong unity of the British Empire is at least a temporary necessity if civilisation bourgeois and bolshevist alike is to be saved.

“ Crisis is Ended ” LLOYD GEORGE CONTINUES HOLIDAY Received Wednesday, 9.20 p.m. KINGSTON (Jamaica), Dec. S. On receipt of despatches from London Mr. Lloyd George cancelled liis departure. This is taken to mean that tho crisis has ended.

Must Accept Advice of His • Ministers AUSTRALIAN LABOUR LEADER EMPHATIC Received Wednesday, 9.35 p.m. CANBERRA, Dec. 9. When the Federal House of Representatives met to-day the Primo Minister (Mr. J. A. Lyons) briefly explained why Parliament was called together, mentioning the Constitutional crisis arising out of the suggested marriage of his Majecty, and added: “As tho position is still uncertain pending his Majesty’s decision Parliamentary discussion at this stage would do nothing but harm.” He, however, 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 sildnee in Parliament was the best contribution toward a happy solution.

Mr. Curtin, leader of the Opposition, asking that all. the facts should bo made available, said the Labour Party insisted that thero should be no coercion by Ministers of this or any other Dominion upon the King in choosing his wife. “The King on the other hand must not ask Parliament for any speciaL legislation to suit his con\enicnce iu choosing a wife. Ho must choose a wife from ladies who may lawfully be married to him as the law stands and must accept the advice o, his Ministers. The Opposition will leave the King unfettered in his choice of a wife but tho King must nccept full responsibility to his own couscience and the Empire iu the choice he makes. Tho Australian Labour Party hopes the King 'will remain on tho Throne. It desires to and will remain loyal to him.” The House then adjourned until tomorrow.

French Press Hopes PARIS, Dec. 8. Tho newspapers unanimously express the hope that the British crisis will soon be ended. L’Oeuvre says that it is disorganising the whole world by unsettling the British Empire and preventing the Foreign Office carrying out numerous tasks incumbent on it in the cause of peace. German Comment BERLIN, Dec. S. Tho British crisis was mentioned for the first, time publicly by Herr Fritzache, head of the broadcasting news service. In his daily Press comment he referred scornfully to the foreign Press devoting themselves in more or less good taste to a description of the private affairs of the persons concerned, who had become a prey to the camera and pen. He said: “The German Press takes a more chivalrous view and directs its interest in these days to home affairs, for instance, the collection for the Winter Help Fund,”- ,