ABDICATION SAID TO BE INDICATED BY THE COURSE OF EVENTS

Northern Advocate, 10 December 1936, Page 7

ABDICATION SAID TO BE INDICATED BY THE COURSE OF EVENTS

Conclusion Reached By M.P. ’s

EARLY ANNOUNCEMENT STATED TO BE ESSENTIAL

STILL NO STATEMENT FROM MR. BALDWIN

(Extra or dinary). (Received 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, December 9.

THE PRESS ASSOCIATION STATES THAT PARLIAMENTARIANS OP ALL PARTIES HAVE REGRETFULLY COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT ABDICATION IS INDICATED BY THE' COURSE OP EVENTS. Cabinet assembled at 11 a,.m. Mr Walter Runciman, President of the Board of Trade, left at 11.12, accompanied by Sir Edward Peacock, Receiver-General of the Duchy* of Cornwall. The Cabinet meeting- ended at 1.15 p.m., but no statement was issued in regard to the King. In the House of Commons, replying to Major Attlee, Leader of the Opposition, Mr Baldwin said: “I regret I am not iln a position to add anything today, but-I hope to make a statement tomorrow. ” Major Attlee: Is 'there good reason to hope for a statement tomorroAV, as anxiety is increasing? NEED FOR EARLY DECISION. : Mr Baldwin: No one realises it more than I do. Mr P. J. Bellinger (Labour —Bassetlaw, Notts): Grave financial difficulties are facing a section of the population, due to delay. Will you suggest to His Majesty the necessity for (in early decision? (Cries of “No, no.”) \ Mr Baldwin That has not escaped mo.

■Members of tlie House of Commons have been advised to cancel any engagements in the country tomorrow, as there must be a full attendance to hear Mr Baldwin’s stateraeiU. The stock markets closed weak in the absence of a statement. All yesterday’s improvement was lost.

Mr Walter Monckton and Sir Edward Peacoeke, after vising Buckingham Palace to see the members of the King’ staff, returned to No. 10 Downing Street. They left at 1.52.

The Duke of York arrived at Fort Belvedere and the Duke of Kent left a few minutes later. Late in the afternoon Mr Monckton' arrived at Fort Belvedere. ' : ’ ' ■ ■ An Army despatch rider was summoned to Downing Street from Kensington Barracks and motor cycled to Fort Belvedere with a despatch C3Se - . . v ; - , PLIMAX TOMORROW. There is a widespread feeling tonight that the climax of the crisis fraught with mighty potentialities for the British Empire will be reached tomorrow. All signs indicate that Mr Baldwin, when he makes his statement in the House of Commons; will have a most momentous announcement to make of the final decision on a problem which, for a week, has occupied the minds not only of the King himself, the best brains of statesmen and the highest legal advisers of the land, but the minds of British people throughout the Empire, and of the nations of the world. The last words before that announcement have apparently been spoken. Cabinet, which met and sat for 2£ hours this morning, conferred again this evening for an hour, after which it was stated there would be no further meeting before the assembly of the House of Commons tomorrow. Mr Baldwin, however, conferred briefly late this evening with Sir John Simon and for a longer time with Mr Walter Monckton, the King’s Attorney-Gen-eral.

DRAMATIC INCIDENTS. The most dramatic incident of the day became known only when the Court Circular was issued this evening from Marlborough House.

This stated-that Queen Mary, accompanied by the Princess Royal and the Duke of Athlone, visited the King in the afternoon. The last meeting between mother and son was o n the night of Thursday last, when the King drove to Marlborough House from Buckingham Palace, before going to Fort Belvedere.

Another interesting incident was that the Duke of York was apparently relieving the Duke of Kent at Fort Belvedere. The later had been there all night. It has been noted that one or other of his brothers has been with the King almost throughout the crisis’, while Mr Monckton has slept at Fort Belvedere many nights in succession. . Mr Monckton’s movements yesterday were again divided between Fort Belvedere and Downing Street and Buckingham Palace. The Duke of York returned to his Piccadilly residence late this evening, when it was noticed he looked pale and worn. The Duchess, with the Princesses, were waiting to receive him.

ABDICATION FEAR STRONG. • Fears that Mr Baldwin tomorrow will announce abdication were expressed in the lobbies of the House of Commons tonight, and will be reflected in the morning newspapers. The “Daily Mail’s” first edition has a streamer heading in very black type: “Abdication Feared.” The paper says: “Unhappily the indications are not such as to encourage optimism, although until the last minute of the last hour, the nation will continue to pray that the King’s final decision will be against abdication.”

A significant move was that the Government acquainted the Labour and Liberal Opposition Leaders with the position to date.