Archbishop Stirs Controversy with Broadcast on King

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 37, 13 February 1937, Page 11 (Supplement)

Archbishop Stirs Controversy with Broadcast on King

BONBON.—A controversy lias arisen over the recent broadcast address by tho Archbishop of Canterbury wherein this high dignitary of tho Church ot England rebuked both tho lato King himself and tho social circle formerly surrounding tho royal palace.

There are strong partisans of both aides. Uuo holds mat the Achbishup was oaJ)' doing bis duty us head ~t Britain a established religion in siieak.ing out. The other thinks that the time has gone by lor praise or blame and that the sooner the entire incident ol the late Jxiug 's abdication is Torgotten the better ior ail concerned. Another point is raised that promises to bo more lasting. it concerns the question as to whether or not suU&eieni control is being exercised over those who express lheir views by broadens tiug. This control is in the hands of a I board originally appointed by the Government and ultimately liable to be changed by that authority, but Tor the time oeing able to act entirely independently. The board is understood to have given the Archbishup u free hand on the occasion of his broadcast, not sup posing that he would say anything controversial. Meanwhile, public opmion here lucimcs to endorse the words used by Prime Minister Baldwin when he declared that he had “ little or nothing to say in the way of comment or criticism or praise or blame." Mr Baldwin added: ‘‘Let no word be spoken that causes pain to auy soul, let us not forget to-day the revered and beloved hguro of qjuecu Mary and what all this has meant to her, and think of her , when we have to sfieak. if speak we must. ’ 1 Only a small minority holds any other view.