PERSISTENT RUMOUR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26350, 3 January 1947, Page 5

PERSISTENT RUMOUR

ENGAGEMENT OF PRINCESS NEWSPAPER ASSERTIONS DENIED LONDON, Jan. 1. Reuter’s lobbyist, after special inquiries, denies a report published in a London evening newspaper that Mr Attlee had sent a memorandum to the dominion Prime Ministers asking for the reactions in their countries to a marriage between Princess Elizabeth and Prince George of Greece. The correspondent also denies the same newspaper’s report that Cabinet had discussed the possibility of marriage or will discuss it to-morrow. He adds that no representations on this subject have been received from any dominions either at Buckingham Palaoe or No. 10 Downing street. Reuter’s court correspondent says that the Buckingham Palace authorities informed him that there was nothing to add to the statement from the secretary, Sir Alan Lascelles, when he officially denied a few months ago that there was an engagement. Among other statements published by the newspaper concerned were:— 1. That Mr Attlee's memorandum to the dominion Prime Ministers was couched in the terms of a personal message. 2. That Whitehall believed only politics were delaying the announcement of the engagement, as Cabinet had to consider the diplomatic implications sclong as British troops remained in Greece and the troubled situation there lasted. 3. That it was hoped an announcement would be made during royalty’s forthcoming South African tour, but it was unlikelv anything would now be said until Princess Elizabeth's twentv-first H-thdey in April. 4. Prince Phii'n is In accompany the roval party to South Africa as a naval officer in the Vanguard.