CURRENT LONDON TOPICS

Taranaki Daily News, 23 February 1935, Page 14 (Supplement)

CURRENT LONDON TOPICS

INTERNATIONAL ARENA ROPE OF ARMS REDUCTION. CHANGE EVIDENT IN GERMANY. (Special Correspondent) London, Dec. 6. There can be little doubt that the visit of Herr Hitler’s envoy to Paris betokens that Germany is at last making some attempt to reach an understanding on the arms question. Obviously the movement is but to its initial stages, and it is far too early to encourage much feeling of optimism. At the same time, assuming it was the same matter that Herr Ribbentrop had under discussion with Sir John Simon, a new light is thrbwn on the significance of Mr. Baldwin’s recent .Speech to the House bf Commons, and it would seem that he was talking rather to the German people than to their rulers. Favourable public opinion is a most important background for the success of international negotiations, and if in this case Germany is taking the initiative to reach a rapprochement, Mr. Baldwin must have rendered invaluable Service by creating the right atmosphere both in Germany and in France. Psychological Changes. No doubt both statesmen might deny the soft impeachment, but shrewd onlookers believe that both Lord Snowden and Mr. Lloyd George are shifting their political anchorages a bit. Lord Snowden’s more recent public appearances have been at Liberal gatherings, and his speeches on these Occasions have certainly suggested that the former I.L.P. leader is how inclining more to Liberal than Socialist ' doctrines. Mr. Lloyd George, on the other hand, is shaping distinctly more towards Left Wing politics than he formerly did, at any rate since his very early days, tad some politicans Would not be greatly staggered to see him coming out boldly on the Laboui- ticket,' which is, of course, a Socialist bftfe. These manifestations accord with the diagnosis Of those who have always contended that Lord SribWderi was an Old-fashioned LabouChferO Radical in I.L.P, clothing, and that Mr. Lloyd George’s proper metier was Marxian. Minority Governments. Some Amusement is excited by the assurances of Socialist leaders that their party will never attempt to form a Government unless they, have a majority to the House Of Commons. Something of the same sort was heard before the second Socialist Ministry was formed, but not when the moment came for putting it to the test. Those who speak thus have evidently not stopped to think out the alternative, which is, since “the King’s Government must be carried on,” that they will have to keep in office a party weaker than themselves, and with whose policy they disagree. Accordingly, I Afri not ito? pressed by these self-sacrificing declarations, made before the time for putting them into force has arisen. Lord Linlithgow and Vieeroyalty. There is more than either logical inference or mere guesswork in the Suggestion that Lord Willingdon’s successor as Indian Viceroy Will be Lord Linlithgow. By status, experience, special knowledge and personality, he is admirably qualified even at the age of 47 to be the King Emperor’s deputy in India during the testing period just ahead. As Chairman Of the committee whose report now holds the centre of the political and parliamentfy stage, his skill arid, tact in securing agreement oil controversial points amongst thirty meh of shaded Views have b'een beyond all praise. He would certainly be Well placed as the man in control at Simla when the Indian Report starts to function aS An Act of Parliament. Both business and politics beckoned to Lord LihlithgdW after the WAr, arid hfe hAS had experience of both. But it IddkS very much now As though Imperial prdcohsulship may be ftiS final metier. Duke of Kent’s Income. Any possible unpleasantness Or acrimony at Westminster over the Duke of Kent’s allowance on his mafriage has been obviated by an Act of Parliament passed when a Liberal Ministry held office to 1910. Under this statute, to which Only the faintest gesture of opposition was forthcoming, each of the Royal Prtoces receives an annuity of £lO,OOO on coming of age, and this becomes £25,000 oh marriage. In the case of the Princess fioyal the annuity is £6,000, with similar grants to het aunts. Princess Victoria and the Queen of Norway. The Only exception to the aildwanefe for the King’s sonS is the Prince of Walfes, whose income derived from the Duchy of Cornwall revenues, tad is, Of course, much mdfe considerable. These allowances are a substantial ecdhomy oh former settlements. Queen Victoria’s daughters received marriage dowries Of £30,000 each. Up to the Title. King Christian IX of Denmark was known familiarly to his day as the Father df Europe. By being virtually either grandfather or great-grandfather of last week’s Royal wedding, the memory of that estimable monarch is living well up to the title. Only three of the chief figures at the AbbeyQueen Mary, the Queen of Denmark, and the bride’s mother—are hot either King Christian’s grandchildren dr greatgrandchildren. tn the latter category come thd Duke and Duchess of Kent, tn the former are King George, the King of Denmark, both the King aftd Queen of NdrWay, Prince Nicholas of Greece, who is the bride’s father, the Grand Duke Cyril of Russia, afid Princess Victoria. The bridegroom's brothers and the bride’s sisters, as well aS the ex-King George of Greece, are greatgrandchildren, and the little Princess Elizabeth is a great-great-grandchild. The Double Marriage. Unsatisfied CUtioSity still prevails as td why it was thought necessary to have the Duke and Duchess of Kent married according to the rites of the Greek Church after the Anglican Service, especially as the Archimandrite was present in Westminster' Abbey and signed his name in the register As a witness. The relations between the Church of England and the Orthodox ChUfch are increasingly cldse; feach recognises the Validity of the Other’s orders, I believe; and one would have thought that clergymen of the two Churches might have held a joint ser--Vice. I have heard an interesting theory, but as it is based On Surmise and oh contingencies which may never arise, it may be more discreet not to mention it and to fall back on the most probable explanation—that the bride wished it. Prince Paul of Jugoslavia. The illustrious assembly of foreign royalty for the Duke of Kent’s wedding caused Scotland Yard much anxiety. Extraordinary police precautions were observed, but these chiefly concerned Prince Paul Of Jugoslavia. This highly cultured young Prince is not only a cousin of King Alexander, the monarch assassinated, at Marseilles not many weeks ago, but has succeeded him as virtual regent dictator of Jugoslavia. It was feared that some attempt might

be made On his life by emissaries of one or other of the Secret societies interested to Balkan politics. The Prtoce is ta Oxonian, paints and collects pictures, is a keen, student of Etlropeta literature, iftClftding Oftt OWft especially, and has a son flow at ofte of the big English Schools. Ptiftdb t’aftl is maffted to the Ducifess.df Kent’s sister. Another Royal Romance. We shall Shortly be getting £he afihbunCemeht of yet another royal romance. It is not this time one that directly concerns this country Or our Own royal family, though the high contracting parties are more or less closely related to our King tad Queen. This royal engagement is one between a particularly attractive and, very popular Princess, daughter bf a reigning ftiOftarch, and a handsome and intelligent young Prince, also the son of a reigning monarch. Both the young people were in London for the recent royal wedding, the Prince with his royal father, tad the Princess as One bf the Duchess bl Kent’s bridesmaids. Whbft the weddiftg takes place it Will be an Occasion for much rejoicing in two Eurbpeaft ebuniries, One of them a neighbour of out own, and one with which this country has had close assbciatibft ovbt many centuries, sometimes ift the dim Aftd distant past hot always bf the friendliest, blit iatterly bf the happiest possible kihd. Acceiiri bf the Film. How long will be, I wonder, before the producers bf American films appreciate the incongruity of having the leading parts to British stories spoken ift the accents of Hollywood? These ate, as one might say O.K. for gaftgstet plays, but to hear the characters in aft English story using them completely spoils the illusion. Some years ago, when I whs in Hollywood, I met a leading, star who admitted "Man, I had fib idea I had Sife aft Aberdeen accent till I heard mysblf oh the talkies.” Presumably the American players suffer from the same disability, for it is literally true that no one knows the sound Of his Owfi Voice until he has heard it reproduced by “talkie” Or gramOphbhe record. Trafalgar Square Recruits, The public eta now view, at the National Portrait Gallery in Trafalgar square, all the fteW Works acquired by the alert Trustees during the past year. Examples fangs from the 17th Century to the Ultfa-mOdOfn School of portraiture, and besides oil paintings there are watercolour sketches, black ahd white drawings, and medallions in wax. Irrespective Of their artistic merits or demerits, most Of the new portraits are interesting in themselves, including as they do such personalities as Wordsworth, Southey, Shelley, Hazlitt, John Stuart Blackie, Field Marshal the Earl of Wipers, Lord Kitchener, aftd Sir Edward Elgar. But perhaps the genera! public may be even mote fascinated by a pen drawing of himself, executed with fare vivacity and humour, by the immortal but tragic Drufy Lane comedian, Dan LenO. Gwfi. London fathers whose Christmas boil* days extended OVer this week were profoundly thankful for the Schoolboys’ Own. Exhibition at Westmiftster. Not bftly did it provide them With a suitable entertainment to which they cbiild take schoolboy sons and schoolgirl daughters, but it enabled them to Spend several hours thoroughly enjoying themselves in the investigation Of the newest mechanism in liners, trains, gliders, aircraft, and motor Cars. Year after year this exhibition gfOWs in interest, and there is some truth in the suggestion, that the crowds of fathers Who Visit it get as much pleasure and as many thrills from the various stands ahd displays as do their children. Certainly it is oftefi the boy rather than the father who has to say “Come along,” sb engrossed does the older risitor become in some of the models.