EMPIRE'S SYMPATHY

Evening Star, Issue 24284, 27 August 1942, Page 4

EMPIRE'S SYMPATHY

TRAGIC FATE OF DUKE OF KENT DIED ON DUTY (P.A.) WELLINGTON, August 26. The Governor-General, Sir Cyril Newall. sent the following message to the King:— “ I beg to express to your Majesty with my humble ciiity the respectful sympathy of the Government and peoples of New Zealand on the death of His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent, the news of which has been received with deepest regret by your Majesty’s subjects in this Dominion.” DEEP REGRET IN AUSTRALIA. SYDNEY, August 26. Deep regret at the death of the Duke of Kent was expressed by the Prime Minister, Mr Curtin. The Duke was appointed Governor-General of Australia in 1939, and the appointment -was never revoked. “ Australians have always had a high regard for him,” said Mr Curtin. “ His designation before the outbreak of the war as Governor-General of the Commonwealth was received with the greatest pleasure. The deepest sympathy of the Government and the people of Australia is extended to the Duchess and her children at the death of their husband and father. Everyone will grieve with Queen Mary in the loss of her son and with the King in the loss of his brother.” ALLIED SYMPATHY. (P.A.) WELLINGTON, August 26. “ The sad news of the death of the Duke of Kent in the service of the nation is a very hard blow to our friends and allies, the British people, who, like ourselves, are so deeply attached to their ruling family,” said the Belgian Consul-General, M. Armand Nihotte, to-day. “ A blow to them is a blow to us, and therefore I am voicing the sentiments of Belgium when I state that we are sharing to the full their sorrow and that they have our heartfelt sympathy. In (particular those of us who are acquainted with the proofs of friendship which we have receivea at the hands of all members of the British Royal Family in our distresses, both in 1914 and 1940, will feel this loss very keenly indeed. ‘‘lt is only a few weeks ago that in inaugurating the Belgian Institute in London the Duke of Kent addressed us in the following terms: —‘ lam very happy to be able to open in London a' centre devoted to our Belgian and Luxembourg frineds and allies. I like to think that the bonds of friendship which unite our two countries are particularly close, not only because for the second time we are fighting side by side, but also because each of our two peoples understands, and admires the customs and thoughts of the other.’ The Duke of Kent has died a soldier’s death,” M. Nihotte added. ‘‘ We have no right to give way to sadness, which threatens to overwhelm us. We have one right only: to admire him. And only one duty: to carry on his work. We must resolve to strive that his death shall be one step on the road to the victory for which he has given his life.”

A message has been despatched to the Duchess of Kent by the ConsulGeneral for Greece in New Zealand, Mr T. E. Y. Seddon: “ The Greek residents in New Zealand respectfully tender to you their heartfelt sympathy in your tragic loss.”