THE DEAD STATESMAN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20335, 17 February 1928, Page 7

THE DEAD STATESMAN

A PEACEFUL PASSING. SURPRISING VITALITY SHOWN. FAMILY AT THE BEDSIDE. (Pm* Association—By Tclrgrapb Copylig:,’. / LONDON, February 15. The Earl of Oxford and Asquith s vitality ui his fight for life surprised tic doctors, who expected the end any time on Monday. His death was most peaceful, and took place at 6.50 a.m. to-day. . . The Countess of OrTiord and Asquith maintained her bedsioe vigil till the end The daughter and tour sons were a'so present. The Countess insisted on sending her own telegraphed intimations to the King «nd Mr Baldwin.—A. and N.Z. Cable. SHEAVES OF TRIBUTES. AN OUTSTANDING FIGURE. FINE RECORD OF PUBLIC WORK. LONDON, February 15. Viscount Cecil in his tribute says: He was a great and good man, and his death has left a gap unfdlable Oy any man alive to-day. He never claimed for himself the merit that belonged o another, and, indeed, not always the merit that belonged to himself. Thus in war time all the merits of his administration v ct© attributed to others, and all tn© failures to himself: but he never complained. . “ There may have . been other men of great posilion'more admired, but I doubt if any bus been more loved.” Mr' Ramsay MacDonald (the Labour Leader) states: ” His death marks the closing of a chapter in onr parliamentary life. He was the last of what the Victorians meant by ‘ great parliamentarians —men of leisure, culture formality, dignity, and catholicity. He was a '-reat figure.” Mr J. R. Clynes says: “ His memory will be honoured not oulv for his fine record of public work and high parliamentary achievement, but also for his rare attributes and personal character.” The Paris press pays long tributes with special emphasis on his dominating part in Britain’s entrv into the war. “Upon his shoulders fell the crushing responsibility of plunging the Empire into war,” says Excelior. ”It was he who took the momentous decision, for which alone the French people shomd bow in respectful homage and gratitude. Lord Reading states: “He was a great gentleman, an outstanding figure in great events. The dominating part he took n Britain’s entry into the war and the many measures pursuing it will never be forgotten. He was a singularly fine and noble character, with complete freedom from vanity, jealousy, pettiness, and all forms of self-seeking.” Mr Arthur Henderson savs: “To know Lord Oxford was to have a profound admiration for the sterling qualities of in English gentleman, loyal to his colleagues and considerate to his opponents. Public life is certainly poorer bv his passing.” Mr J. H. Thomas states: "The nation * has lost a great servant. To Parliament he added dignity and lustre. He was a sincere, lovable friend. In good times and bad times he was always the same, incapable of a mean thing, always subordinating personal interest to public good.” Air Godfrey Collins (Chief Liberal Whip) says: “He never maligned a foe or deserted a friend.” Lord Derby: " The nation has lost much- by -the death' of this singularly simple, upright English gentleman.”— A. and N.Z. Cable. THE PLACE OF BURIAL. ABBEY AUTHORITIES’ OFFER. (British Official Wireless.) {pres* Associatioo— hy X'eitfgrupb—-Copynjytit.) RUGBY, February 15. World-wide tributes to the memory of the Earl of Oxford and Asquith are being paid to-day. ' The King has sent a telegram to Countess Oxford expressing his sympathy with her in her loss, and his grief at the death of a valued friend and a great servant of the State. The Belgian Government, in a message to its Ambassador in London, has paid a striking tribute to the Earl of Oxford and Asquith. The message states i “ Belgium will never forget the brilliant services of this illustrious statesman, who directed the British Government with such loyalty and strength at the moment of the outbreak of the war. Belgium will always recall with gratitude the momentous decision which he inspired with a view to ensuring respect for treaties and of helping Belgium to defend herself against the violation of her neutrality and independence.” The King of Belgium has also sent message of sympathy to King George and the Countess of Oxford and Asquith. President Doumcrgue has addressed his condolences to the Countess, and has telegraphed his profound regrets and those of the French Government. The Countess has received an offer to hmy her husband in Westminster Abbey, but has not yet reached a decision. RESOLUTION IN PARLIAMENT. BOTH HOUSES TO ADJOURN. LONDON, February 15. Tn the House of Commons Mr Baldwin, after questions, gave notice that ho •would move a resolution relating to :he Earl of Oxford and Asquith’s death m Thursday, following the precedents in the deaths of Gladstone and Chamberlain. After to-morrow’s tributes the Houses of Lords and Commons will adjourn.—A. and N.Z. Cable. DECEASED’S EXPRESSED WISH. A PRIVATE BURIAL. LONDON, February 15. (Received Feb. 16, at 9 p.m.) Tn accordance with the Earl Of Oxford and Asquith’s expressed wish, the burial will be private. A memorial service will ha held in the Abbey on February 21. Among the condolences are messages from the King of Belgium, the French President and M. Briand, and the Canadian Premier. M. Hymans, the Belgian Foreign Minister. is instructing the ambassador in London to represent the King and Government at the funeral and to lay a wreath. He says; “ Begium will never forget the Earl’s* loyalty in defending Belgium’s independence.” He also sent this message to the widow: “ His loyalty and character and his immutable determination in 1914 make him one of the noblest figures in contemporary history.”—A. and N.Z. Cable. GERMAN PRESS REFERENCES. BLAMED FOR CAUSING THE WAR. BERLIN, February 15. (Received Feb. 16, at 9 p.m.) The newspapers mostly stress the Earl of Oxford and. Asquith’s career as a parliamentarian scholar and domestic statesman.. Some of them allude to the part he played in the war and blame him for causing it, desiring to destroy the German Umpire.—A. and N.Z. Cable.

THE FINAL MOMENTS. FULL OF DRAMATIC INTENSITY. LONDON, February 16. (Received Feb. 16, at 11 p.m.) The public was taken aback at the decision that the Earl of Oxford and Asquith is not to bo buried at Westminster. It is also understood that the Countess and the other members of the family are deeply disappointed, but the Earl left a precise written statement that the funeral should be private, which was only known to-day, when the Dean, upon the Government’s suggestion, proposed an Abbey funeral in recognition of the cx-Primc Minister’s leadership in the great crisis of national history. Sir Maurice Bonham-Carter, the Earl’s son-in-law, consulted the family, who decided the deceased’s wishes must be carried out. The body will lie in state for two days in All Saints’ Church, Sutton Courtney, whore for many years the Earl read the lessons ou Sunday evening. The place of burial has not yet been decided. The final moments of the Earl's life were full of dramatic intensity. The family was grouped around the bedside, eagerly watching for even the faintest whisper from the dying statesman, but in vain, for he slipped out of life silently and gently with that dignity which he had displayed throughout his whole life. His heir is his grandson, Viscount Julian Asquith, son of Raymond Asquith, who was killed near A\miens, in 1916, the year the hoy was born.—A. and N.Z. Cable. THE NEW EARL. A SCHOOLBOY OF ELEVEN. LONDON, February 15. (Received Feb. 16, at 11 p.m.) The new Earl of Oxford and Asquith, a schoolboy of 11, is descended on his mother’s side from Little Jack Horner, of the nursery rhyme. He eventually inherits Molls Manor, Somerset, where, according to legend, the pie incident happened. His mother was converted to Roman Catholicism, and the now peer is being educated at Catholic schools. » There are now 30 minors in the peerage, their ages ranging from 4 to 16 years.— Sydney Sun Cable;