THE EMPIRE’S 25-YEAR DIARY.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13163, 23 January 1936, Page 5

THE EMPIRE’S 25-YEAR DIARY.

May 6. 1910—King George A', ascends the British throne. May 31, 1910—British colonies ol the Cape. Natal, the Transvaal and the Orange River unite to form the Union of South Africa. May 23. 1911 Commonwealth meets in London. June 22, 1911— King George crowned in Westminster Abbey. Aug. 4, 1914—British Empire enters the World War. Nov. 11. 1918—Armistice. Cease fire sounds at' 11 a.m. Dec-. 23. 1919—Government of India (Amendment) Act, o-tahlbb-ing partial solf-government in India. June 15, 1919—British airplane is first to' cress Atlantic. Jaii. IP. 1920—League oi Nations opens temporary office in LonDee. (j. 1921—Self-governing Irish Free State created. I eh 2G. 1922-—Washington NavaJ Limitation Treaty, introducing 5. 5, 3 standard for capital ships for navies of Britain. America and Japan respectively. Feb. 28. 1922—British declaration grants independence to Egypt. Dec. 15. 1922—Britain's first broadcast mg.eompa ny registered. Sept. 29, 1923—National Home for Jewish People e stablished in Palestine under British mandate. Jan. s, 1924—Britain’s first Labour Government takes office Oct 16, 192-s—Locarno agreements guarantee frontiers ol' Germany, Belgium and France. May 3, 1926—General strike in Britain lasting nine days. July 29. 1927—British Trades Disputes Act passed, limiting privileges of trade unions. April 22. 1930-—London Naval Treaty signed, imposing further limitation upon Anglo-American-Japanese- armaments. March 20, 1931—Britain goves self-government to CYylon. Aug. 24, 1931—National Government formed in Britain. Sept. 20. 1931 Britain abandons gold standard. Dec. 11, 1931—Statute of Westminster passed, giving Aill independence to British Commonwealth nations. July 21, 1932—British Imperial Economic Conference opened at Ottawa. Oct. 4, 1932—Traq. formerly under British mandate, admitted to the League of Nations as an independent state. June 12, 1933—World Monetary and Economic Conference held in London. Dec. 8, 1934—International force under a British- officer sent to keep peace in Sr.nr plebiscite. Dec-. 19, 1934—New law for giving India further independence introduced in British Parliament. Fob. 3, 1935—Anglo-French agreement, reached aiming at peace and disarmament m Europe by pacts 4>f mutual assistance.

I Air Ramsay MacDc.i aid. as Lord President of the Council, informed the assembly of King George’s death and the accession of Edward. The Council requested the Archbishop of Canterbury to acquaint Edward of wliat had taken place in the chamber. The King then walked fifty yards across the Ambassadors’ Oourt to St. James Pal see. where tlm Council was being held. His Majesty wore a Guard’s scarlet tunic and all bis orders. He looked tired but his head was high. He was assured as lie strode through the guard of honour, whose crepe-draped colours were now for the first time lowered in salute to the new head of the Army. The Duke of York wore a naval uniform and the Duke of Gloucester the Hussars’ levee dress. Many naval and military officers were present, including General ,Sir William Birdwood. who attended the King. Tin* doors of the Council Chamber were flung open and an official announced “his Majesty the King.” The Archbishop of Canterbury and f Air Ramsay Ala c-Donald entered escorting King Edward by the hand. The Councillors bowed low and listened attentively to the King’s speech. HIS AIAJESTY S ADDRESS. The King, addressing the Council said : “Irreparable loss to the British Commonwealth oi Nations has been sustained by the death his Alajesty, my beloved lather. There has devolved upon me the duty of sovereignty. I know how much you and all my subjects with, 1 hope 1 may say. the whole world, feel for me in mv sorrow . and J am confident, ill the affectionate sympathv which will be extended to my dear mother in her overpowering grief. ‘When, my father stood here 26 years ago he declared one of the objects of. hi-- life would be to uphold constitutional governnient. In this t am determined to follow in my lath- , er’s footsteps and work as he did I throughout his life for the welfare 1 of all classes of my subjects. 1 place my reliance upon the loyalty and affection of mv peoples throughout the ! Empire and upon the wisdom of. their Parliaments to support me in this heavy task. I pi ay God to guide me to perform it.” After deliveiing his speech his Alajesty took tin* oath of accession and also subscribed to the oath securing the freedom of the Church of Scotland. The Councillors then swore loyalty to the King and kissed his hand on being presented.

The Councillors then returned to* Westminster, a special Parliament was summoned Both Houses of Parliament met in silence. It was a sombre gathering of politicians who had forgotten their conflicting opinions in a common sorrow. The whole scene was dominated by the solitary throne cm the dais in the House of Lords which, as the symbol ot the King’s authority, had been installed to-day, replacing the two throjiies which were yesterday ’ for King George and Queen Alary, while the gilt chair tin* Prince of Wales usually occupied was also removed.

Tlu* Commons was crowded with black-suited and black-tied men. Tt was also noticeable that black-edged notepaper was in the racks, replacing the usually wholly white. The Speaker was wearing white “weepers” over j black cuffs and black shoe buckles ! instead of silver. Then began the ceremony of taking the oath of allegiance* to Edward, the Speaker leading, followed by the I members of Cabinet. Among the | earliest sworn in was Sir lan Fraser, the blind member oi the Common?, who was led to the table by the 1 hand and guided to a place before [ the roll, which he laboriously signed, i Lord Dawson of Penn, who last- night : signed the death bulletin, to-day i signed the roll of the Lords acknowledging the new king. His features showed the strain ot the recent days.