“ENGLAND NOT INTERESTED”

Southland Times, Issue 23337, 22 October 1937, Page 4

“ENGLAND NOT INTERESTED”

DUKE OF WINDSOR ATTITUDE OF AMERICANS (United Press Association) AUCKLAND, October 21. “England is not interested in the Duke of Windsor. One hears a good deal about him in this part of the world, far more than one does in England, but the average man in London gives scarcely a thought to him and I believe the average American is of a like opinion,” said Canon H. MortimerJones, of Hastings, who returned to the Dominion by the Rangitiki. Canon Mortimer-Jones said that while he was in England he met a number of representative Americans and they expressed the opinion that, in spite of what had been said to the contrary, Americans were not anxious that the Duke and Duchess should settle there. The general attitude of the Americans was luke-warm, and the same could be said of the general run of Englishmen. “I think the best illustration of what I mean could be taken from the attempted sale of books dealing with the Duke’s life,” said the Canon. “I have it on good authority that a number of men tried to sell cheap editions of a certain book to crowds waiting outside English theatres. There was practically no sale for them and I think that the lack of response is characteristic of what the English public thinks about the whole business.” Instead of becoming a martyr, the Canon suggested that the Duke had passed into obscurity. His place was taken by King George VI, who seemed likely to become one of Englands most popular monarchs. He already had gained the warm affection of his people. One heard very little, if anything, of the Rev. R. Anders m Jardine, who married the Duke and Duchess. He had left the church and no one seemed interested in his doings.