THE NORTHERN ADVOCATE Registered for Transmission through the Post as a Newspaper. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1949. The King's Broadcast

Northern Advocate, 27 December 1949, Page 4

THE NORTHERN ADVOCATE Registered for Transmission through the Post as a Newspaper. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1949. The King's Broadcast

The central feature of greetings to and from all parts of the Empire during Christmas was the broadcast made by His Majesty the King to his people throughout the world.

The practice of broadcasting a Christinas message, inaugurated by the late King George V-, made possible by the coming of wireless, proved a great medium for the strengthening of the family spirit which animates the peoples of the British Commonwealth. His Majesty King George VI., following the precedent set by his father, has, each Christmas Day during his reign, delivered to his people everywhere a message marked by wisdom and human understanding. This year His Majesty’s message breathed the same spirit of paternal affection, and dependence upon Divine guidance, that marked the broadcasts of previous years. His Majesty, at the outset, took the opportunity to express vocally the thanks and appreciation he had al-

ready communicated to his people by press and pen for the sympathy they extended to him during his illness, saying that this solicitude for his well-being had deeply touched him and deepened his conviction that he and his people are one great family.

This led His Majesty to make a comment which cannot be too often reiterated by all who have the power to influence public opinion, for he declared that “two world wars have taught the nations how close the several parts of the human family are one to another, and how quickly good fortune of ill fortune of one is felt by others.” Speaking specifically of the problems confronting Britain—and con-

sequently confronting the British Commonwealth—King George paid tribute to the sympathy and aid received from the Untied States, emphasising that “without that understanding help, we could not have

made the progress towards recovery that has already been achieved.” But, having expressed Britain’s gratitude to her friends in the United States, His Majesty struck a note which should find an echo in every British breast. “None of us,” said His Majesty, “can be satisfied until we are again standing upright and supporting our own weight. But,” he added, “we have a long way to go before we can do that. It is bound to be a tough business.” "This firing of the spirit of independence which rinds a place in the make-up of every worthwhile Briton, and at the same time stressing the fact that independence can only be gained by heroic effort, constituted the right approach to Britain’s problems.

Making a strong appeal for the preservation of the liberty the democratic way of life produces, His Majesty urged on all peoples to spare no effort to make that way of life vigorous and strong, both now and in yea l '? to come. This o-ought His Majesty to the conclusion of his broadcast with the observati in that the troubles of these timps cannot be solved by human wisdom alone, but to a world distracted and anxious and uncertain the Christmas message of God’s power and love reaching out to help and save men from failure and frustration came once again as a call to faithfulness in order to receive the strength required to rise superior to all difficulties.