MESSAGE OF NEW KING

Stratford Evening Post, Volume IV, Issue 39, 25 January 1936, Page 6

MESSAGE OF NEW KING

Parliament Addressed in First Person. CHANGE INDICATES EDWARD’S SIMPLE DIGNITY.

Press Association— Copyright. London, Jan. 23. The King’s message to Parliament today created a precedent inasmuch as it was framed in the first person. King George’s message in 1910 began in traditional style—" The King knows the House of Commons shares his sorrow, etcetera.” King Edward’s began with “1.” Parliamentarians detected in the change King Edward’s simple yet dignified directness of manner. “I am well assured that the House j of Commons deeply mourns the death of my beloved father,” the King s message said. “He had a devoted life of service to the people in upholding constitutional government and he was ever actuated by a profound sense of duty. 1 am resolved to follow the way he set befoie me—Edward R. 1.”

Mr. Baldwin amid subdued cheers moved a motion conveying to the King the House’s deep sympathy in the grievous affliction of His late Majesty s death and grateful remembrance of his unselfish public service for the welfare of the people, and further expressing to the King loyal devotion and the firm conviction that under Divine providence he would throughout his reign promote happiness and protect the liberties of i the people. J

He moved a second motion of condolence with the Queen, assuring her j that the House shared her sorrow in j the irreparable loss which the nation j had sustained and that all members 1 would ever hold in their hearts towards j Her Majesty the deepest feeling of revl erence and affection.

Spiritual Power of Crown. Mr. Baldwin said the temporal powers j of tile Crown had diminished through | the as» Vet i of the Crown was not on*., ® . j than ever, but greater than any in j visions or dreams could have foreseen. “It holds together the whole Empire of English-speaking people,” he said. “It is, I believe, an indissoluble link, which is due to the character of those who have held the throne in the last 100 years—Queen Victoria, King Edward and King George. Mr. Baldwin recalled that it was in

Westminster Hall that the first Parlia- I ments were held. Through long centuries until the proclamation of King Edward VIII the evolution of the constitution had continued. There had been changes manifold in the usage of Parliament and changes in the nature of the monarchy, but the changes had been accomplished for the most part peacefully and in accordance with the political tradition of the British race. j

A great achievement of last century, ! culminating perhaps in the reign of King George V, was the coming to terms of the democracy and of the monarchy, rnd a system unique in the world was evolved which gave stability to the body politic. It was a system that most countries to-day would give all they had to possess. King George communicated his per- ] sonality by some intangible wave of sympathy and understanding to every one of his subjects, not only at home, but throughout the world. “The power of the Crown to-day is not a power of force,” said Mr. Baldwin. “It is a great moral power, which must depend on the character and | quality of him who sits on the throne, i and, important as we may think ourselves in our generation who wrestle with the political problems of the country and act as the King’s advisors, we are but ephemeral compared with the monarch.” i

“It was in the reign of King George that the greatest and swiftest changes occurred. He met the challenge of time without flinching and triumphed at a time when a slip of speech or action might have wrought irreparable damage.. He never considered his own ease and leisure.

At Peace With the World. “We have no memory of him but at his best, and his best was something very high,” said the Prime Minister. “He fell asleep at peace with all the world.” Mr. Baldwin said there was no need to dwell on how His Majesty’s power and influence for good was enhanced in a million ways by the rich companionship of the Queen. He would merely assure the Queen that the whole country felt for her something far removed from conventional grief, but the people’s thoughts must turn to the future. “We offer congratulations to our new King,” he said. “No two Sovereigns in the long gallery of ancestors have served their people in an identical fashion. The three past Sovereigns were widely divergent in their gifts. Edward VIII in turn brings to the same altar a personality richly endowed with an experience of public affairs, of the fruits of travel and of universal goodwill.

“He has the secret of youth in the prime of age. He has a wider and more intimate knowledge of all classes of his subjects, not only at home but through the Dominions and India, than any of his predecessors. We cannot foresee what paths the course of the Empire or history may take, but our ancient constitution has shown itself, in the words of his father,, adaptable to change. Thai virtue has not left us, and while we remain true to our inheritance and our character it never will. It is now in a special and unique sense in the keeping of a young King whom we have sworn to cherish.” The New R e I g n Mr. Baldwin concluded: “Inspired by these memories and endowed ns he is, wo look forward with confidence and assurance to the new reign, believing that under God’s providence ho will establish the Throne more firmly than ever on the present and only foundations —the hearts of the people.” Major C. R. Attlee, Labour Leader, said: “There is to-day no division in this House. We are all united in sorrow al the loss of a great and well-beloved Sovereign. Wo all feel that we have lost a friend. King George reigned through a period of transition. The old world passed away and a new one was born.

Thrones have been overthrown because the occupants stubbornly set themselves against the march of events. King George succeeded where' others had failed because he was a democrat.

“He was the supreme exponent of the difficult art of constitutional kingship. Instances were to be found in his acceptance of the limitation of powers of the Upper House and the attainment of office by a new party, the members of which were drawn prominently from the manual workers.

Rea! Sovereignty. “Ho agreed with the series of. Acts whereby the Dominions attained equality with the Mother Country and India and set the road for self-government. He allowed nominal sovereignty to be apparently diminished, but by doing so established his real sovereignty in the hearts of the people of the Empire. (Cheers).

“The country did not see the movements of mass hysteria that were witnessed elsewhere. One reason was the presence of the King, who commanded the respect and affection of his people and was beyond the spirit of a faction. There was no need to elevate a popular hero ' because the King was there tc express a hero to his people. (Cheers). The King felt the tragedy of unemployment deeply. The new King has shown the same sympathy for all classes.” Sir Archibald Sinclair, associating the Liberals with the motions, said that during a period in which all institutions in the country were subjected to rapid change, trials and stresses King George strengthened his hold upon the imaginations of the peoples of the Commonwealth. Referring to King Edward. Sir Archibald said: “Perhaps never in our history has a Prince ascended the throne so fully equipped. He has both commanded and constantly practised the ideals of social service and fellowship.” The motions were carried.