MRS. SIMPSON WOULD RETIRE.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 304, 8 December 1936, Page 5

MRS. SIMPSON WOULD RETIRE.

SACRIFICE TO EASE THE SITUATION MR. BALDWIN’S BRIEF STATEMENT TO PARLIAMENT EXPECTED “SURPRISE” NOT INCLUDED IN HIS SPEECH, NO ANNOUNCEMENT YET MADE BY KING EDWARD. (Press Association —Copyright.) An announcement by Mrs. Simpson that she is willing to withdraw from her projected marriage with the King is the feature of to-day’s news regarding the constitutional crisis. This is Mrs. Simpson’s first' statement since the crisis occurred. Mr. Baldwin’s eagerly-awaited statement to the House of I,' Commons was cabled this morning, but it does not contain the “surprise” that was forecasted. No statement has yet been made by King Edward. t Mrs. Simpson’s announcement is contained in a cable message received from London at noon to-day, which states — - Reuters’ Cannes correspondent says that Mrs. Simpson has authorised a statement that she would wish immediately to withdraw from a situation which has become untenable, if such action the problem. The statement was read to journalists by Lord Brownlow. Position Summarised. Summarised, the position at present is that the Cabinets of England and the Empire are awaiting a statement from the King as to his intentions. All that has really happened so far is that king Edward approached Mr. Baldwin to find out what Cabinet s views would be on the question of a morganatic marriage between the King and Mrs. Simpson, which would have meant that Mrs. Simpson would have been his wife but would not have been Queen. Mr Baldwin, after consulting the British and Dominions Cabinets, replied that the Governments concerned would be averse to passing the legislation which would have been necessary for such a morganatic marriage.

Obviously, the next move lies with the King, who is taking time to consider the matter. All talk of abdication, or even of persevering with the marriage, is mere unauthorised conjecture as to what is in the King’s mind. ; Mr. Baldwin’s Statement. ’• The Prime Minister’s statement was contained in a cable message received from London at 1 I a.m. In the House of Commons, Mr. Baldwin said: It remains the earnest desire of the Government to afford the King the fullest opportunity for weighing the decision involving his own future happiness -and the interests of his subjects. At the same time we cannot* be unaware that the considerable prolongation of suspense is at the risk of the gravest national and Imperial interests. . No one is more insistent on this aspect than the King himself. “In view of other statements I must say that with the exception of the morganatic marriage problem no advice has been tendered His Majesty, with whom my conversations have been strictly personal and informal. This matter was raised by the King himself in conversation with me some weeks ago, when he for the first time indicated his intention of marrying Mrs. Simpson whenever she was free. “The subject therefore has been for some time in the King s mind ,and as soon as His Majesty has arrived at a conclusion as to the course he desires to take he will doubtless communicate it to the Governments of Britain and the Dominions, who will then decide what advice they feel it their duty to tender. « “I cannot conclude without expressing what the whole House feels—deep and respectful sympathy with His Majesty at this time,” Major Attlee: I hope you will bear in mind the request that the House should receive the fullest information at the soonest possible moment. Mr. Baldwin: The situation at the moment is grave. While the King is considering matters it would be most difficult to answer supplementary questions. Mr. Churchill: Can Mr. Baldwin give an assurance that no irrevocable step Loud shouts of “No!,” “Order, order!” ; Mr/Baldwin:.! do not know what the King will decide, and I cannot enter into hypothetical considerations. Mr. Lambert: Are you awar e that there is deep personal sympathy with the King? (Prolonged cheers.) Mr. Thurtle: Will you take the opinion of the House on morganatic marriage? ' Mr Bellenger asked whether, in view of the serious dislocation of industry, he could have an early opportunity of discussion. Both questions were drowne d in cries of Order ! and were not answered. The House proceeded to its next business.

KING AND PEOPLE. NEW ZEALAND VIEWS. Two Distinct Groups Of Opinion. Although the attention of the public was drawn to the King’s personal affairs by the publication on Thursday last of comment made by the Bishop, of Bradford, Friday's revelation of a constitutional crisis came as a bewildering shock to the majority of New Zealanders. During the past three days that sense of bewilderment has remained. So far public opinion can be gauged only by street, office, and household comment. It seems fairly plain, however, that in no walk of life or sphere of adult thought are people altogether of one mind. Points of view may,, perhaps, be divided into two groups. There are those who express either reluctant or wholehearted. approval of the clear-cut choice presented to the King by' Britain’s Prime' Minister, and subscribed to by the New Zealand Government. There is the other group composed of people whose sincere feelings may be summed up by saying that they would be prepared to

accept Mrs Simpson as the wife of the Sovereign rather than lose King Edward. In no quarter is there heard approval of Mrs Simpson as a Royal personage, but there are many who feel that they can withhold this approval without denying the King’s right to please himself and still remain King, however unwelcome such a choice may at present appear to be. , It is .the accepted custom in New Zealand, though it does not extend to . all of the other Dominions, to flash : a picture of His Majesty the King on I ■the screen at the beginning or end I of every moving picture entertain- ■ ment. Everyone in the audience stands, and no word is" spoken until the National Anthem is concluded. On each evening during the national 'crisis there has been sertsed an added concentration on the part of the public during this ceremony. There is an impression that the cable services supplying New Zealand newspapers with overseas information were, until Friday, completely silent, upon a subject now on . the lips of file English-speaking i world. This is not the case. Brief 1 messages concerning Mrs Simpson | have been published from time to I time since September 24, when | authority was lent to gossip concerning her association with the King by the publication of a Court Circular announcing her as a guest at Balmoral Castle.

The news that Mrs Simpson intended to seek divorce from her husi band was also cabled, and a summary of the divorce proceedings appeared in due course. Then on November 30 came a small message referring to a rumour that Mi’s Simpson’s London house was being guarded as a result of threats made on her life. To newspaper readers sufficiently informed on the subject of Mrs Simpson these messages represented an unobtrusive but adequate coverage of the available real news, as sifted from trivial and unreliable gossip.