King's Message of Gratitude

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 645, 23 April 1929, Page 1

King's Message of Gratitude

(Australian and N.Z. Press Association) (United Service J Received 9.28 a.m. LONDON, Monday. FIE King lias issued the following “letter to his people.” CRAIOWEIZ, HOUSE, April 22, 1929. “In looking back over my long illness and recovery , my heart is full of a thankfulness of a far deeper origin any mere sense of relief. “/ have . been brought back from the danger and weariness of past months by the wonderful skill and devotion of my doctors, surgeons, and nurses; and help has come from another source of strength —as month after month went by, I learned of the widespread, loving solicitude with which the Queen and I were surrounded. I am able to picture to myself the crowds of friends waiting and watching at my gates, and think of the still greater number of those who in every part of the Empire were remembering me. with prayers and good wishes. Realisation of this has been among the most vivid experiences of my life. “It was an encouragement beyond description, to feel that my constant and earnest desire had been granted—a desire to gain the confidence and affection of my people. My thoughts have carried me even further than this. I cannot dwell upon the generous sympathy which has been shown me by unknown friends in many other countries without a new and moving hope. I long to believe it possible that experiences such as mine may soon appear no longer exceptional—when the national anxieties of all the peoples of the world shall -be felt as a common source of human sympathy, and a common claim on human friendship. “I am not yet able to bear the strain of a public ceremony; but 1 look forward on some appointed day to joining with my people at home and overseas in thanking Almighty God, not merely for my own recovery, but for the new evidences of growing kindliness, significant of the true nature of men and nations. “In the meantime, I hope this message may reach all those, even in the remotest corners of the world, from whom ice have received ■words of sympathy and goodicill, (Signed) GEORGE, R. 1.”