CHURCHILL’S VOICE.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 303, 7 December 1936, Page 6

CHURCHILL’S VOICE.

Raised In Opposition To Cabinet’s Stand. Press Association —Copyright. London, December 5. “Various voices have been raised in opposition to the Government’s attitude in the Royal crisis, of which Mr Winston Churchill’s statement is the most prominent. '“I plead for time and patience,” says Mr Churchill.* “The nation must realise the character of the constitutional issue. There is no question of conflict between the King and Parliament, which has not been consulted and not allowed to express an opinion. The question is whether the King is to abdicate on the advice of the Ministry, but no such advice has previously been given a Sovereign. “If it be .true that the King proposed legislation ’Which the Ministers were not prepared to introduce the Ministers’ answers should not be a call for abdication but a refusal of the King’s request, which would thereon become inoperative. If the King refuses 'the Ministers’ advice they are free to resign. They have no right whatever to press the King to accept their advice by previously soliciting assurances from the Leader of the Opposition 'that he will not form an alternative administration, thereby confronting the King with an ultimatum.” “There is the human and personal aspect. The King for many weeks has bqen under the mental and moral strain. Surely if he asks for time to consider the advice now that matters have been brought to this culmination he should not be denied. The King has not the means of personal access to Parliament and fehe people; 'the Ministers stand between him and them. The Ministers must be careful not to be judge of their own ease. If abdication is hastily extorted 'the outrage so committed would chst a shadow across many chapters of the history of the British Empire.” Mr Attlee, when shown Mr Churchill’s references, said there was no foundation for such a statement.