HASTE DEPLORED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22595, 7 December 1936, Page 10

HASTE DEPLORED

ATTITUDE TO KING THE GREATEST ENGLISHMAN LORD ROTHERMERE SPEAKS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received December (3, 7.30 p.in.) LONDON. Dec. 0 Lord Rotherniere, proprietor of the Daily Mail, says : "You cannot smuggle the greatest living Englishman from his throne during a week-end, which a concerted effort is being made to do. I have just returned from a trip round the world, and wherever 1 went people of all nationalities expressed unstinted praise and admiration of the King. The present indecent haste is producing unpleasant rumours affecting high political and other personages." The Daily .Mail, in an editorial points out that Mr. Baldwin has clarified the issue so far as the Government is concerned but failed in an important respect as ho did not disclose the King's wishes. Mr. Baldwin announced the entire rejection of the expedients suggested out of goodwill and affection for the King, with the special purpose of safeguarding his personal happiness and retaining his magnificent qualities of leadership for the Empire's benefit.

View ol Dominions "Moreover, the statement contained a further point of immense importance —that Mr. Baldwin was satisfied that the assent of tho Dominions would not be given to tho suggested change," the paper says.

The Mail adds that much depends on the manner in which tho situation was put to the Dominions and says it is therefore necessary that the communications sent them should bo immediately published in full. "The King is confronted with a choice more tremendous and difficult than any figure in history, namely of renunciation of the Throne of the greatest Empire in the world, or of his happiness," says tho article. "The British peoples most deeply sympathise with tho King in his hour of tragic decision, and realise his anxiety and grief. They would regard tho abdication of their beloved Sovereign as an unspeakable calamity." Elements Intermingled

The News Chronicle similarly regards Mr. Baldwin's statement as increasing the gravity of a situation in which tho personal, constitutional and political elements are inextricably intermingled. Tho paper says there is, however, a strong and growing desire that the King should marry the woman of his choice when sho is free to marry him, but she should not be Queen. If such a solution were possible the public would sigh with relief. The Sunday Dispatch says: "There is an uneasy feeling that the Cabinet's tactlessness has forced the country into a false relationship with the King. Tho King should follow the example of his father, who successfully composed critical questions of State by summoning outside advisers."

THE NEWS IN EUROPE SUPPRESSION IN GERMANY RUMANIAN PRESS CENSORED (Received December 0, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON. Dec. 5 Newspapers throughout Europe continue to comment generally, hoping for a settlement and expressing sympathy with His Majesty and the British people, except in Germany, where news of the development is still unpublished, Yugoslavia, where comment is forbidden, and Rumania, where King Carol prohilyted the newspapers from mentioning Mrs. Simpson and directed that the constitutional crisis should be attributed to unemployment problems. A message from Bucharest says that the Rumanian press is sharply at loggerheads with King Carol, whose insistence on strict censorship of the news of the British Royal crisis has led to the newspapers appearing with inanj obliteration marks. A Moscow cablegram says that the Soviet press publishes reports of the crisis, with Mrs. Simpson's narrate, but no comment is being made.

HOUSE OF LORDS NO REFERENCE TO CRISIS FEW MINUTES IN SESSION !■ (Received December 0, 5.5 p.m.) British Wireless RUGBY. Dec. 4 No reference was made to-day to tho constitutional issue in the House of Lords, where tho sitting lasted only a fow minutes and the House adjourned until Monday. So far there has been no official statemont as to tho issues which have arisen between the King and his Ministers. Tho Parliamentary correspondent of the Times says that when matters aro made public it probably will bo found that tho King has expressed a desire to contract such a marriage as would require a special Act of Parliament, that ho has himself taken the initiative in asking whether such a measure can bo passed and that tho Ministers, alter a full consideration and consultation, have replied that in their opinion it is impossible. The Ministers liavo been asked the question and have given their answer. BROADCAST TO NATION NOTIFICATION EXPECTED AMERICAN JOURNAL'S REPORT NEW YORK. Dec. 4 Tho Now York Times' London correspondent Bays that officials of the British Broadcasting Corporation aro holding themselves in readiness to receive, in tho next 48 hours, notification from Buckingham Palace that the King desires to broadcast to the nation. It is reported that Sir John Reith, director-general of the corporation, has already perfected plans for a broadcast to carry the King's voice to the farthest corners of the Empire. It is believed tho Government is unable to interfero in tho King's wish, since tho corporation is constituted by Royal charter and is virtually operating at the King's pleasure.