MRS. SIMPSON

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22608, 22 December 1936, Page 8

MRS. SIMPSON

PERSONAL SKETCH SMART AND VIVACIOUS "A BATHER (iAY SET" ATTITUDE OF THE PEOPLE "Mrs. Simpson is a very smart, well-dressed, vivacious woman, who belongs to a rather gay set. She .has a great many friends both in London and Washington, but 1 think even her friends would agree that she is an unsuitable person to be wife of the King, cither as Queen or otherwise," said Mr. H. A. McChi re Smith, a through passenger to Sydney by the Niagara, on the vessel's arrival yesterday. He will take up the position of associate-editor of the Sydney Morning Herald. Mr. Smith, who has been a leader-writer on the London Times, has met Mrs. Simpson twice at parties. She had a facile wit which marie her the life of a light-hearted party, but it appeared to be under such circumstances that she was most successful, said Mr. Smith. She was chic and liad a very good figure, but she would not be called beautiful. Attitude of Press Although the whole of the English press had felt that in the public interest it would be better not to discuss the matter until the Government thought it necessary to take action, the ex-King's friendship with Mrs. Simpson had been well-known to those behind tiie scenes all last year. Even before his departure from England in October, Mr. Smith said, the possible outcome ol the friendship was being very seriously discussed in influential circles, although the question o| marriage was not then very much to the fore.

From opinions he had heard it appeared that Mrs. Simpson had offended both ends of the social scale and the fact that she had been twice divorced closed the argument with 90 per cent of Englishmen as to her suitability as Queen. It was felt also that she should have retired from the situation when she saw she was prejudicing the King's position.

Hopes For New Reign "I think that tragic as the outcome was it was thg only solution under the circumstances," said Mr. Smith. "Having gone so tar it was impossible for either King or Government to turn back. 1 have no doubt King George VI. and Queen Elizabeth will make a very fine and beloved couple who will restore the type of Court of King George V. and Queen Mary, and will in their personal life set the same standard of conduct." There was a feeling that among King Edward's many fine virtues his great weakness was that he chose his personal friends badly, which had led to a rather brittle type of society in the Court circle. Prior to taking up the position of leader-writer on the London Times. Mr. Smith was for several years correspondent*for that paper in New York and Washington. He has also been a special correspondent for the Sydney Morning Herald and has done a good deal of work for English periodicals.