DUKE’S WEDDING

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 456, 14 June 1937, Page 3

DUKE’S WEDDING

PRESS TREATMENT Royal Family’s Attitude Press Association —Copyright. London, May 22. As a background to the Coronation celebrations which seem to extend ’themselves almost indefinitely, th-® Duke of Windsor’s preparations for his., wedding ( are causing some- embarrassment in England. Now fixed for June 3, its treatment by different sections of .the Press and public opinion is interesting. In 'the popular papers it is front-page news, and has been for the last two weeks, except for two or three days around the actual Coronation. These are the Beaverbrook and Rothermere papers, which at the beginning of the crisis were strongly sympathetic to King Edward; they have not forgotten the way in which their advocacy of a “save the King” policy was ignored by 'the Government —and 1 , indeed, by their readers. Their present featuring of the story is also, of course, good journalism from their point of view; they are magazine papers, and this is -to them the greatest romance anfl journalistic history. More serious papers studiously avoid anything but the barest official announcements. In this reticence they are helped by the very great secrecy which is being observed about the Duke of Windsor’s .arrangements. Popular papers are forced to fill out their columns with interviews with Mrs. Simpson’s (or Miss Warfield’s, as she is now) hairdresser, or with prophecies, quite unsubstantiated, about the honeymoon, plans, which have now had' nearly every holiday resort in Europe and Noilth Africa assigned .to them.

But this curious contrast between headlines is one paper and complete silence in another is causing some

commenlt, particularly in America. There the newspapers are vigorously maintaining, first, 'that the British Press has been officially asked to avoid reference to the wedding as much as possible, and that it only the unruly members thait are disobeying this l order secondly, that there has been a clash between the Cabinet and some: members of the Royal Family who wished to a-.:end the wedding. With regard to the first assertion, we can definitely that there has been no advice given to the British Press, official or otherwise, on the subject. On the othei* hand, there is no doubt that papers like “The Times,” "Telegraph,” and "Morning Post” are interpre'.itag a Government altitude with which they agree. As to a Cabinet clash, it probably involves some misunderstanding of English politics and their methods, to accept the situaUbni in thiose .terms. It is understood, however, that Princess Mary and l.he Duke and Duchess of Kent, in particular, were anxious to attend she wedding Princess Mary is said to have op-

posed all along the rigorous exiling of the Duke of Windsor, which has been so thoroughly carried out. That a Cabinet decided .them against it is most unlikely; there is no evidence that the Cabinet’s advice was sought, which would be the only occasion for an official attitude in the matter. More likely is it that the Royal Family were decided against attending by semi-official advice; it is said to have been represented to them as an aclt of disloyalty to the present King and Queen to assist in any way in withdrawing publicity and 1 public interest from the Coronation. Nevertheless, it Will be understood that the position in England is a little embarrassing ait the moment for anyone officially concerned; and, remembering the self-imposed censorship before the abdication, people pay rather more 'attention to American newspaper stories than they formerly did.

Also, no one can deny that there is very great interest in fhe Duke of Wlindsor and l n all his actions —"a deep and tolerant affection,” an A|merican journalist said to us, summing up the attitude .of this, country towards him—.and there., is apt to be some impatience if news is deliber. ately withheld. Even the readers oT-staid Government papers grow a little dissatisfied. Most of 'them have resolved their loyalities to the present King, and are quite satisfied with the present position; but they- £ till want to hear .about the Duke of Windsor.

Japan and the Pacific. The biggest speech of the Imperial | Conference so far has come from white-haired, wild-eyed Mr. Lyons, of Australia, who wants a regional agreement in the Pacific. Mr. Baldwin and Mr. Anthony Eden .eafflrmled Britain's position in Europe; it ' was. received as usual, rather unsympathetically by the Dominions. The atmosphere of Loudon and Paris during these last few days has bsen |in the best pre-war traditions —rumours of crowned heads meeting at receptions, diplomatic luncheons, and corridors asides. (The best of these stories is the one by which 'the friendship between the Duchess of Kent and Prince Paul of Yugoslavia brought Mr. Eden and Germany's Marshal von Goering off the following day on a flying visit to Italy. No one can quite fo'How these involutions or their bearing on the .confused politics of Central Europe). There has be'en some clarification ae a result., a reaffirmation of the FrancoSoviet pact, for instance, and as tlar as one can see, no weakening of the democratic front. As regards the Pacific and Mr. Lyons, it cannot, in the nature of things, mean much over here. But there is- good evidence of American 10-openation being forthcoming, which would be very welcome. With this there is some talk of a “new deal” between Britain and Japan. What this would involve excent an acceptance of Japan’s expansion into China it is hard to say, but the Japanese want it. They have been to greclt trouble with their representation at the Coronation and are very popular, from the Oxford-edufcated! Pj’ince Chichibu to the smiling little men at the naval review. English people are apt to be sentimental about Japan, remembering their old alliance, and they like the idea, of Japan “keeping order in the East.” Whaft i s not so .generally realised is that there is no longer a partnership, but rather a clash of interests, between the two countries.

Tobaccos that burn the tongue and irritate the throat? Why, they are as common as house-flies in summer!' What’s wrong with them? That’s an easy one! Full of nicotine, so they may not only burn the tongue, but wreck the nerves, affect the heart, attack the throat and play up with you generally. Give them a miss if you value your health. Why smoke them, anyway, when you can get the genu ine toasted for the same (or less) money. Toasting, the manufacturers’ complex and. unique process, eliminates the poisonous nicotine, while at the same time enhancing flavour and aroma, and you not only get a thoroughly enjoyable smoke, but a har'mles one. Toasted possesses that clean, pure, sweet and fragrant quality you’ll look for in vain in other tobaccos. There are oply five brands of the genuine article, remember: Cut Plug | No. 10 (Bullshead), Cavendish, Navy I Cut No. 3 (Bulldog), Riverhead Gold ; and Desert Gold. The two latter make the finest cigarettes money can buy! And once you change over to toasted you'll never want anything else.