ROYAL MARRIAGE NOT CANVASSED

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5292, 3 January 1947, Page 6

ROYAL MARRIAGE NOT CANVASSED

( Press Assn.-

VOICE' OF 'DOMINIONS DENIAL OF~ENGAGEMENT REPEATED

—Rec. 9.S0 p.m.)

LONDON, Jan. 2. Reuter's lobbyist, after special inquiries, denies a report publishecl in a London evening newspaper that Mr. Attlee sent a memorandum to the Dominion Prime Ministers asking for reactions in their countries to a marriage between Princess ' Elizabeth and Prince Philip of Greece. The eorrespondent also denies a re- ' port in the same newspaper that Cabinet dise issed the possibility cf j marriage or will discuss it to-day. He ! adds that no representations on this j subject have been .received from any i of the Dominions, either at Bucking- j ham Palace or No. 10 Downing Street. j Reuter's Court eorrespondent says the Buckingham Palace authorities in- ( formed him that there was nothing to add to the statement from the King's Secretary, S-ir Alan Laseelles, when he officially denied a few months ago that there was an engagement. Among other statenients published by the newspapers eoncerned were: — (1) That Mr. Attlee's memorandum to the Dominions Prime Ministers was ceached in terms of a personal message. (2) That Whitehall believed that only politics were delaving the announcement of the engagement, as •Cabinet had to consider diplomatie | implications as long as British troops remained in Greece and the troubled situation there 'lasted. (3) That it was hoped the announeement would be made during the Royal party's South African tour, but that it was unlikely anything wculd (now be said until Princess Elizabeth's 21st ibirthday in April. (4) That Prince Philip would accompany the Royal party -to South Africa as a naval officer in H.M.S. Vanguard. A cablegram published yesterday stated that Mr. W. L. Mackenzie King, Prime Minister of Canada, had given a personal assurance that Canada would not object to the marriage of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip.