CORONATION OATH

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 32, 22 February 1937, Page 7

CORONATION OATH

—Press Aasn,

Word "Dominions" Has Less General Meaning NEW PHRASEOLOGY

(By Telegraph

.-Cfioniehtl

(Received 22, 10.30 &.m.) LONDON, Feb. 21. Commenting on the Coronation oatb the Observer says: "The word 'dominions' now has less general meaning tban formerly The Dominions do not belong to tbe United Kingdom as tbe old pbraseology bad it, but only to tbemselves. Tbe guarantee for maintenance of tbe Protestant Rfeformed religion is now expressly limited to tbe United Kingdom, wbere its historical significance resides." Tbe SUnday Times Aays: "Tbe oatb does not merely accord witb tbe fact of His Majesty 's multiple kingship, but piaees it on record before tbe world.'' Referfing to tbe Coronation oatb, the Manchester Guardiab says: "They are another instance oi tbe way in wliicb even tbe most historie of Englisb eonstitutional usages are modified to meet tbe new condition^ and ebanges wbicb bave becQme necessary since 1911 owing to tbe constitutional position which bas arisen from tbe new status of tbe Dominions UUdef tbe Statute of Westminster." Tbe new form of oatb bas been approved, after dilscussion between tbe United Kingdom Government and tbe Dominions- Governments. Tbe text of tbe first portion of tbe Coronation oatb, in order to meet the ehanged constitutional' position, is to be as follows: "Will you solemnly promise and sweaf to govern tbe peoples of Great Britain, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and tbe Union of Soutb Africa, of youri possessions and otber territories to any of them belonging or pertaining and of your Empire and India accOrding to tbeir respective laws and customs." No altefations have been made in tbe second part, in wbich tbe King swearls be will, to bis power, cause law and justxCe in merdy to be OxeCuted iii all bis judgments. . Tbe religious part of the oatb has been slightly modified so &s to iimit to tbe United Kingdom tbe King'a undertaking to maintain tbe Protestant Reformed religion establisbed by law. Regarding tbis modification, th© Manchester Guardian remarks; "It manifests tbat tbongb tbe Protestant cbaraeter of tbe monarchy, onde its most vital ebaracteristic, stands unSbaken, it bas ceased to be an irritant challenge to tbose of other faiths."