THE LATE EARL OF OXFORD

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 119, 17 February 1928, Page 9

THE LATE EARL OF OXFORD

WORLD-WIDE TRIBUTES TO HIS SERVICES GRIEF OF KING AND COUNTRY PRIVATE BURIAL DECIDED UPON World-wide tributes to the memory of the late Earl of Oxford and Asquith are paid. Burial in Westminster Abbey was offered, but in accordance with the Earl’s wish the burial will be private. A memorial service will be held in Westminster.

By Telegraph.— Press Association. —Copyright.

London, February 15. The Earl of Oxford’s remarkable vitality and fight for life surprised the doctors, who expected the end at any time on Monday.’ Death took place most peacefully at 6.50 a.m. Lady Oxford maintained her bedside vigil to the end. One daughter and the four sons of the late Earl were also present. Lady Oxford insisted on sending her own telegraphed intimations to the King and Mr. Baldwin.

(Rec. February 16, 7.40 p.m.) London, February 15. The Westminster Abbey authorities have offered burial, but in accordance with Lord Oxford’s wish the burial will be private. ■ A memorial service will be held in the Abbey on February ‘2l. Among the condolences are messages from the King of Belgium, the French President, and M. Briand and the Canadian Premier.

M. Hymans, the Belgian Foreign Minister, is instructing the Ambassador in London to represent the King and Government at the funeral, and to lay a wreath on the coffin. He says: “Belgium will never forget Lord Oxford’s loyalty in defending Belgium’s independence.” He also sent a message to the widow:. “His loyalty . of character and immutable determination in 1914 make him one of the noblest figures in contemporary history.”— A.P.A. and “Sun.” PUBLIC DISAPPOINTED (Rec. February 16, 8.15 p.m.) London, February 15. The public was taken aback at the decision that the Earl of Oxford should not be buried in Westminster. It is also understood that Lady Oxford and other members of the family are deeply disappointed. But Lord Oxford left a precise written statement that the funeral should be private, which was only known to-day, when the Dean, upon the Government’s suggestion, proposed an Abbey funeral in recognition of the former Prime Minister’s leadership in the great crisis of national history. Sir Maurice Bonham-Carter, Lord Oxford’s son-in-law, went to Sutton Courtney to consult the family, who decided that Lord Oxford’s wishes must be carried out. The body will lie in state for two days in All Saints’ Church, Sutton Courtney, where for many years Lord Oxford read the Lessons on the Sunday evening. The place of burial has not yet been decided. The final moments of the Earl of Oxford’s life .were full of dramatic intensity. Lady Oxford, Sir Maurice and Lady Bonham-Carter, Princess Bibesco, and Mr. Anthony Asquith were grouped around the bedside eagerly watching for even the faintest whisper from the dying statesman, but in vain. Lord Oxford slipped out' of life silently and gently with that dignity which he had displayed throughout his whole life. The heir is his grandson, Viscount Julian Asquith, son of Raymond Asquith, who was killed near Amiens in 1916, the year the boy was born. MESSAGE FROM THE KING (Rec. February 15, 8.15 p.m.) London, February 15. The Speaker, Mr. Whitley, presiding at the dinner to Mr. Amery, said the first thoughts and words of members of the House of Commons must refer to the loss of Lord Oxford and Asquith. When the historv of our time came to be written, the Earl would be classed as one of our greatest men. It was unforgettable how he represented Britain in the dark days of 1914. It was no small factor in the ultimate victory of the Allies. Mr. Thomas joined in the tribute, and said Lord Oxford was the personification of the term English gentleman. Mr. Amery associated himself with the previous speakers. The King sent a message to Lady Oxford: “Tire Queen and myself hasten to assure you of our grief in the death of your beloved husband. To us both he was an old and dear friend, and to me a faithful, wise counsellor. Your sorrow will be shared by the country to whose service Lord Oxford’s pre-eminent powers were unsparingly and devotediv given.”—A.P.A. and “Sun.” BELGIAN GOVERNMENT’S MESSAGE JWAR SERVICES NEVER FORGOTTEN Rugby, February 15. World-wide tributes to the memory of Lord Oxford and Asquith are being paid to-day, The King has sent a telegram to Lady Oxford expressing his sympathy with her in her loss and his grief at the death of a valued friend and a great servant of the State. At the end of question time in the House of Commons the Prime Minister rose and said that he was sure the House would have heard with most profound regret of the death of the

Earl of Oxford, and he gave notice that he would to-morrow move an appropriate resolution. The Belgian Government, in a message to its Ambassador in London, paid a striking tribute to Lord Oxford. The message says: “Belgium will never forget the brilliant services of this illustrious statesman, who directed the British Government with such loyalty and strength at the moment of the outbreak of war. Belgium will always recall with gratitude the momentous d'ecision which he inspired with a view to ensuring respect for treaties and of helping Belgium to defend herself against the violation of her neutrality and independence.” The King of the Belgians has also, sent a message of sympathy to King George and Lady Oxford. President Doumergue, of France, has addressed his condolences to Lady Oxford, and has telegraphed his profound regrets and those of the French Government. French and Belgian newspapers unanimouslv record the fact that on Lord Oxford fell the tremendous responsibility of throwing the British Empire into the Great War on the side of their countries, and they generally declare that for this act alone their peoples must cherish the memory of the late British statesman. Lady Oxford has received an offer to bury Lord Oxford in Westminster Abbey," but has not reached' a decision yet.—British Official Wireless. Paris, February 15. The Press pays long tributes to the late Earl of Oxford, with special emphasis to his dominating part in Britain’s entry into the war. “Upon his shoulders fell the crushing responsibility of plunging the Empire into war,” says the “Excelsior.” “It was he who took the momentous decision for which alone the French people should bow in respectful homage and gratitude.”—A.P.A. and “Sun.” RESOLUTION OF HOUSE OF COMMONS London, February 15. Mr. Baldwin-, in the House of Commons, gave notice that he would move a resolution relating to the Earl of Oxford’s death on Thursday. Following the precedents in the case of the deaths of Mr. Gladstone and Mr. Chamberlain, after to-morrow’s tributes, the House of Lords and the House of Commons will adjourn.—A.P.A. and “Sun.” EULOGIES OF BRITISH PARLIAMENTARIANS A NOBLE CHARACTER PUBLIC LIFE POORER London, February 15. Among the many tributes to the memory of the late statesman are the following :— Viscount Cecil: “He was a great and good man. His death has left a gap that cannot be filled by any man alive to-day. He never claimed for himself merit which belonged ■to another. Indeed, he did not always claim the merit that belonged to himself. Thus, in war time all the merits of his Administration were attributed to others, and all the failures to himself, but he never complained. There may have "been other men in great positions more admired; I doubt if any have been more loved.”

Mr. J. R. MacDonald, the Labour Leader: “His death marks tjie closing of a chapter in our Parliamentary life. He was the last of what the Victorians meant by 'great Parliamentarians,’ men of leisure, of culture, formality, dignity, and catholicity.. He was a great.figure.” Mr. J. R. Clynes: “His memory will be honoured not only for his fine record of public work and high Parliamentary achievement, but also for the rare attributes of his personal character.”

Mr. Arthur Henderson: “To know the Earl of Oxford was to have a profound admiration for the sterling qualities of tlie English gentleman, loyal tc his colleagues and considerate to his opponents. Public life is certainly poorer for his passing.” Mr. J. H. Thomas: “The nation has lost a great servant and Parliament, to which he added dignity and lustre, a sincere and lovable friend. In good times and bad times he was always the same, incapable of a mean thing, always subordinating his personal interest to the public good.” Sir Godfrey Collins: “He never maligned a foe nor deserted a friend.” Lord Derbv: “The nation has lost much by the death of this singularly simple, upright English gentleman.” Lord Reading: “He was a great gentleman, and an outstanding figure in great events. The dominating part he took on entry into the war and on many measures pursuing it will never be forgotten. His was a singularly fine, noble character, with complete freedom from vanity, jealousy, pettiness, and all forms of self-seeking.”— A.P.A. and “Sun.” ATTITUDE OF GERMAN PRESS (Rec. February 16, 7.40 p.m.) Berlin, February 15. The newspapers mostly stress Lord Oxford’s career as a Parliamentarian, scholar, and domestic statesman. Some which allude to the part he played in the war blame him for causing the war, and desiring to destroy the German Empire.—A.P.A. and "Sun.” THE NEW EARL (Rec. February 16, 9.50 p.m.) London. February 15. The new Earl of Oxford, an eleven-year-old schoolboy, is descended on his mother’s s'de from Little Jack Horner of the nursery rhyme. He eventually inherits Mells Manor, Somerset, where, according to legend, the pie incident happened. His mother was converted to Roman Catholicism, and the new peer .is being educated in Catholic schools. There are now thirty minors in the peerage, their ages ranging from four to sixteen years.—Sydney “Sun” Cabla.