WORLD THANKED

Taranaki Daily News, 10 May 1935, Page 5

WORLD THANKED

THE KING’S GRATITUDE MANY JUBILEE MESSAGES f . ■ ST. JAMES” PALACE LEVEE DOMINIONS REPRESENTED NEW ZEALAND’S ADDRESS British Wireles. Rugby, May 8. The King’s thanks to the nations of the world for their jubilee message were expressed at a brilliant levee which His Majesty held at St. James’ Palace tonight. A crowd of 10,000 waited for several hours outside Buckingham Palace and a further 6000 lined the Mall as the King, bareheaded and wearing an admiral’s full dress uniform, the Queen and the Duke of Gloucester in a car drove at a walking pace to St. James’ Palace. They were enthusiastically cheered and Their Majesties smilingly waved • their acknowledgments.

Upon reaching St. James’ Palace Their Majesties were conducted to the white and gold Throne Room, where other members of the Royal Family were grouped round the Throne. Diplomats representing the whole world, in addition to Dominion Prime Ministers and representatives, were assembled.

Congratulations on behalf of the Diplomatic Corps were presented by the doyen of the corps, Senor Regis de Oliviera, the Brazilian Ambassador, by the Empire Prime Ministers and India through Mr. Ramsay MacDonald, the Prime Minister, and on behalf of the Colonial Empire by Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister, Colonial Secretary. The King, in reply to the Diplomatic Corps, said: “I and the Queen are deeply touched by the warmth tad sincerity of your good wishes. I pray God that the unity of purpose which brought you here tp-day may be a symbol of enduring peace in the world at large.” The most striking phrase in the King’s address to the diplomats was: “I have hOard it rumoured among your colleagues that my capital is a greatly coveted post.” -AUSTRALIAN ADDRESS.

Mr. J. A. Lyons, presenting Australia’s address, said: “Australian loyalty to the Throne and your person is not lessened by the distance separating us. I assure Your Majesty that as far as Australia is concerned there has never been greater devotion and respect to the head of the' Empire. Your life has been an inspiration to all your subjects. The dignity, courage, wisdom and self-sacrifice shown during your 25 years’ reign has been an example worthy to be followed by every Briton. I humbly and sincerely tender Your Majesty this message of love as much as loyalty. It is a message of pride that we are able to share in the glory of your reign.” Mr. G. W. Forbes, speaking on behalf of New Zealand, said: “You have led your people through unprecedented difficulties. The unity of the Empire and the prominent position it holds are mainly due to your leadership and inspiraton. New Zealanders preserve indelible memories of the noble courage and self-sacrifice of Your Majesties and other members of the Royal Family in the dark days of the war and your unfailing sympathy to all sections of the sorely-tried people later has been a comfort during the depression. New Zealanders desire to be worhy in every respect of the race from which they sprang. I pray that you and the Queen may long be spared to guide the destinies of the Empire. ’ - ' . " WELCOME BY KING. The King prefaced his reply to the Empire messages with a welcome to their representatives. “We welcome one and all to our home,” he said. "Eventful as your visit cannot fail to be I trust that it will be happy also and when the time comes for your return I would ask you to take back each to his own people a message of affection to every member of this great family of which I am So proud and thankful to be the head, and a message of deep gratitude for'the loyal and kind words which you have spoken on their behalf. “Before I succeeded my father the Queen and I had the privilege of studying at first-hand the Dominions overseas and India. We were fellow-travellers then as now, comparing notes and sharing impressions. We treasure these memories and keep them alive. Moreover, what we forget our four sons are now able to recall. Many years before our happy partnership began. I had as a midshipman sailed the seven seas. I realised early that the Empire has many climes but one spirit. “I regard this as a unique gather* ug where we can tell one another of our successes and of our failure and mistakes, but here will be no sharp criticism nor vain regrets, for we are in sympathy one with another, conscious that we have acted according to our lights for the good name and the ordered prosperity of the family. “We are sometimes told that we are lacking in logic and that our political institutions are loose and undefined, but I look back on the trying and testing time through which we have passed and wonder whether a less flexible system would have withstood the strains to which we have been subjected. • COMMONSENSE AND GOODWILL. “With conundnsense and goodwill as our shield and buckler we have kept, in spite of all the difficulties, our heritage of liberty, alike for the individual and for our many constituent races. The numberless and invisible ties of sentiment and tradition which bind us together are indeed delicate, but many strands make a cable that is a strong bond in times of adversity. It is my prayer, no less than my firm belief, that this bond of spirit may prove also a bond of peace. “Some of you are, with a few happy exceptions, about my own age. I pray for the continuance of God’s blessing on your labours. With His help I will work on with you in the years that remain for that object which has ever been next my heart—the welfare of the Mother Country, of the Dominions overseas and of India and their happiness and good repute.” In another part of his address to the Dominion representatives, the said: “I am gladdened when our friends from overseas say when visiting England that they are coming ‘Home.’ Hie Queen and I meet you in that spirit. We greet the Prime Ministers of the Dominions now as one and equal partners in the Empire and thank them for the addresses from their Parliaments.” The Dominion representatives were deeply touched by the intensity of feeling in His Majesty’s speech in reply to the addresses. Mr. J. A. Lyons, Australian Prime Minister, was the only Empire statesman who did not read his speech. He relied entirely on memory, which was a severe test at such a ceremonial gathering. He delivered the oration without a hitch. At least 20,000 people • assembled outside the Palace during the. levee and wildly cheered and waved heir hats and handkerchiefs as Their Majesties departed.