MESSAGE FROM THE KING

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2251, 10 September 1914, Page 6

MESSAGE FROM THE KING

A RIGHTEOUS WAR : BRITISH EMPIRE'OF ONE MIND ■ IN THE PRESENT CRISIS WILL RESIST UNPARALLELED ASSAULT . A Message from' His Majesty the King was read by His Excellency the Earl of) Liverpool at about 8.30 last from the steps of Parliament House. At 8.20 p.m. the Prime Minister announced in the House that the Governor had received from the King a Message which he was anxious to read to the people's representatives in person. A similar announcement was made by the Hon. H. D. Bell in the legislative Council, and both Houses adjourned. All the members and the crowds from the galleries, as well as a few people from tlio neighbourhood who had heard of the event, congregated at the frontdoor,' from the steps of which the Earl of Liverpool delivered the Message. His Excellency said: —"Mr. Speaker, honourable gentlemen of both Houses, ladies and gentlemen,—l am cdmmahded by His Majesty the King to read you the following Message. The Message was handed to me at 8 o'clock, and I have taken the earliest opportunity to do so. , • "The King has been graciously pleased to send the following Message to the Governments and people of his self-governing dominions:— " 'To the Governments and peoples of my self-governing dominions: — " 'During the past few weeks the peoples of my whole Empire at Home and overseas have moved with one mind and purpose to confront and overthrow an unparalleled assault upon the continuity of civilisation, and the peace of mankind. ' ' " 'The calamitous conflict is not of my seeking. My voice has been cast on the side of peace. " 'My Ministers earnestly strove to allay the causes of strife and to appease differences with which my Empire was not concerned. Had I stood . aside when, in defiance of pledges to which my Kingdom was a party, the soil of Belgium was violated, her cities laid desolate; when the very life of the French nation was threatened_ (vith extinction, I should have sacrified my honour, and given to destruction the liberties of my Empire and of mankind. " I rejoice that every part of the Empire is with me .in this decision. Paramount regard for treaty faith and the pledged word of rulers and peoples is the common heritage of Great .Britain, and of tho Empire. My peoples in the self-governing dominions,have shown beyond all doubt that they wholeheartedly endorse the brave decision which it was necessary to take. My personal knowledge of the loyalty and devotion of 'my Overseas Dominions had led mo to expect that they would cheerfully make great efforts and Bear the great sacrifices with .which they have placed their services at my disposal; "'With gratitude I am able to say, anc [ J am proud to be able to show to the world, that my peoples of the Overseas Dominions are as determined as the people of the United Kingdom to prose cu to a j ju t cause to a successful end. The Dominion of Canada, the Commonwealth of' Australia, and tho Dominion of New. Zealand have placed at my disp osa l their naval forces, which have already rendered good service for tho E m pj re . Strong Expeditionary Forces are being prepared in Canada, ; n Australia, , and in New Zealand, for service at the front, and the Union of South Africa has released all British troops) and has undertaken important responsibilities of its own the discharge of which are of the utmost value, to the Empire. Newfoundland .has doubled the numbers of its branch 0 f the Royal Naval 'Reserve, and is sending a body of men to take part in the operations .at the front. Prom the Dominion and Provincial Governments (0 f Canada, large and welcome gifts of supplies are on the way for.the use both of my naval and military forces and for tile relief of tho distress in the tJnit e d Kingdom which: must inevitably follow in the wake of war. _ " 'All parts of my Overseas Dominions have thus demonstrated in the most unmistakable manner the ' fundamental unity of the Empire amongst all this diversity of situation-and strife. 1 "'(Signed) GEORGE REX ET IMPERATOR.''' The Prime Minister, the Right Ho n . \y. F! Massey, then said"Ladies and Gentlemen, —I am quite sure you wJlj agroo with mo in the opinion lam going to express, and it is that the Me SS age which has just been'.read by His Excellency the Governor from His Most Gracious Majesty tho King is a message worthy of the occasion, however great the occasion may be. i am quite sure you will also agree with me in this: that the sentiment that obtains today in the .Dominion of New Zealand is common to every part of the Empire, and it is this: That though we hope and boliovo the worst of tho crisis is over, we;are prepared to see this thing through, whatever it may cost, and the life of every male citizen and tho property of every citizen of tho Dominion of Now Zealand is at the disposal of tho Empire. Now, ladies and gentlemen, I am going, to ask you' to give three hearty cheers for the King and then three hearty cheers for His Exwlleney. the Governor, and I hope lie will convey tho message I havo just expressed to. His Majesty tho King." At the call of the Prime Minister,,ohoers wero given first for the King and then for tho King's representative, and the National Anthem was sung.-