WORLDWIDE MESSAGES OF SYMPATHY

Northern Advocate, 20 January 1936, Page 5

WORLDWIDE MESSAGES OF SYMPATHY

JJUNDREDS of letters and telegrams of sympathy with ’the King in his illness are arriving. They include one- from Evangeline Booth, who says: “His Majesty’s serious illness has greatly depressed members of the Salvation Army throughout the world. We plead with the Everlasting Father to grant him a speedy and complete recovery.” The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Cosmo Gordon Lang, speaking in Can. terbury Cathedral, said: “It would be foolish to deny that there are grounds for anxiety about the King’s illness, but there are good grounds for hope, in view of His Majesty’s proved powers of recovery and the knowledge, experience and skill of his doctors and nurses. “I am sure the love and loyalty so wonderfully manifested in the 'Silver Jubilee year will now be expressed by prayers that the Holy Spirit, Lord and Giver of Life may give to him full strength and recovery, give trust and confidence to the Queen and wisdom and skill to those who have the care of him. Prayer for Recovery. “Let us all pray that his life, which means so much to the realm, may be restored to full health and strength.” • Dr. P. E. Amigo, Roman Catholic Bishop of Southwark, has ordered special prayers to be said for the King in all the 150 churches in his diocese. Prayers for His Majesty were said today in all Jewish synagogues throughout the Empire. Special prayers were said at evening in St. George’s Chapel, Windsor.

Owing to the fact that the King is lying ill at Sandringham, there has been no opportunity for display of public feeling on the scale shown in 1928, when thousands of people continually thronged about Buckingham Palace awaiting the bulletins. Nevertheless, scores today clustered outside the forecourt of the Palace seeking the latest news. People of all degrees of life, including men and women in evening dress, who arrived in cars, also soldiers and airmen, visited the Palace throughout the evening and read the bulletins. Troubled. Faces. Then- they departed with troubled faces. anxiety for His Majesty’s health was repeatedly demonstrated. Conversations heard on all sides, in the streets and in public places, proved the closeness with which his ;wellbeing lies to all hearts. At Sandringham, where public interest can: be chiefly- manifested, farm hands, on finishing work, went straight to Sandringham Palace and joined a group of villagers and visitors, who had been waiting all day outside the Jubilee gates, hoping for some sign of how the King was progressing. Even when a bulletin was placarded at dusk they did not disperse, but remained for a long time watching the lighted windows of the stately mansion glowing across the snow. Eyes were specially fixed on the room where the King is gallantly battling for life. Before leaving for home, one of the King’s employees, using the affectionate title by which His Majesty is known in the neighbourhood, said; “All we hope is that

Display of Public Peeling In Britain

[United Press Association.—Bu Electric Telegraph. — Copyright. l (Received 10 a.m.)

LONDON, January 18. ‘the Squire’ ■; will have sufficient strength to rally as he did before.”Centre of Anxiety. The happy life at Sandringham, where Their Majestries like to forget the cares of State, and where the King has been very happy with his gun and dogs, has been overclouded, and the house has become the centre of the Empire—indeed' the world-anxi-ety. The King’s sudden illness caused the abandonment of a private cinema in the ballroom last evening, to which many residents had been invited. Today’s shooting party has also been cancelled. Numerous residents of East Anglia motored to Dersingham, a village near Sandringham, during the night, to ascertain the latest hews. Thousands of Londoners 1 again made silent pilgrimages on foot or in motor cars to Buckingham Palace on a similar errand.

In spite of the cold, the people stood in little groups, discussing the bulletins.

Hundreds of cyclists riding north from the rally in the Albert Hall rode to the Palace first for news. The German newspapers give prominence to the bulletins and express the deepest sympathy with Britain. Herr Hitler telegraphed to. the King his heartiest wishes for his speedy recovery. Rome’s Regrets, In Rome th 6 news of the King’s illness was received with the deepest regret, in spite of the antiBritish feeling. It is noteworthy that even when the campaign was most bitter there was no criticism of the British Royal Family. The King of Italy personally requested Signor Grandi, Ambassador in London, to make direct enquiries as to the King’s progress, and to convey his sincerest wishes for his recovery. German ex-servicemen, who arrived to be the guests of the British Legion, telegraphed to the Prince, stating: “Our first thoughts are for His Majesty’s health. We ask the Prince of Wales to convey this message.”

The President, M. Le Brun, and the Prime Minister, M. Laval, were informed of His Majesty’s illness. An official spokesman said the news had created deep gloom in France, as the King was held in the greatest respect. The news of the King’s condition* is giving precedence over politics in broadcasts, in spite, of the nation’s anxiety to know whether. M. Herriot has resigned. The Swiss and. the Lithuanian Ministers, speaking at a dinner of the Institute of Linguists, expressed the concern of their , countries *, at the King’s illness. The Swiss Minister, in paying a tribute to the King, said that, more than any other man, he was the symbol of international good will, understanding and peace. At Copenhagen the newspapers published long and sympathetic articles, and crowds watched for the latest information displayed at the newspaper offices.

Sandringham is situated in Norfolk, nine miles north-east of King’s Lynn and two miles east of Wilferton station on the London North Eastern Railway.