THE KING’S SPEECH

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 November 1938, Page 6

THE KING’S SPEECH

NEW SESSION OPENED ANNOUNCEMENT OF VISIT TO UNITED STATES. REFERENCES TO EUROPEAN POLICY. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, November 8. With traditional ceremony, the King and Queen drove to Westminster for the opening of Parliament. The King, in his Speech from the Throne in the House of Lords, after referring to Britain’s friendly relations with other Powers, said the Government would do all in its power to promote the development of a good understanding in the spirit of the Anglo-German declaration at Munich. He also mentioned the Anglo-Italian Agreement, which he said he believed would confirm the traditional good relations so happily and so long subsisting between the two countries and would thus further the cause of European peace. His Majesty stated that he had invited the King of Rumania to visit London shortly, and that the French President (M. Albert Lebrun) had been invited to visit London next spring. With reference to his forthcoming Canadian visit, his Majesty stated: “The Queen and I are anticipating the keenest pleasure the visit' which we are hoping to pay to my Dominion of Canada next summer. I have been happy to accept the invitation extended to the Queen and myself by the President to visit the United States of America before concluding the Canadian tour. I warmly welcome this practical expression of the good feeling that prevails between our two countries.”

His Majesty expresses th willingness of the Government to lend assistance in any way possible to the restoration bf peace in Spain and in the Far East.

Speaking on defence measures in Britain, he stated that the Government would take steps to accelerate and supplement the defence measures already in hand. Problems of civil defence would receive undivided attention. He added: “The active furtherance of peace in Europe, which is the constant aim of my Government, will, I trust, lead to a wider spirit of confidence and supply a fresh impulse for expansion in trade and employment. My Government will make persistent efforts to establish favourable conditions for the development of overseas markets.” NEWS IN U.S.A. VISIT OF FOUR OR FIVE DAYS ACCEPTANCE OF PRESIDENT’S INVITATION . NEW YORK, November 8. King George and Queen Elizabeth have accepted President Roosevelt’s invitation to visit the United States, according to an official statement issued tonight. While no definite plans have been made, it is expected that their Majesties will be able to stay: in this country for four or five days, two of which will probably be spent at the White House. ATTACK & REPLY PRIME MINISTER REPLIES TO MR ATTLEE. DEFENCE & OTHER ISSUES. (Received This Day, 11.40 a,m.) RUGBY, November 8. Speaking in the House of Commons in the Address-in-Reply Debate, the Leader of the Opposition, Mr C. R. Attlee, criticised the King’s Speech as giving no indication of a really constructive programme, and expressed regret at the absence of any reference to a trade agreement, with the United States. He also commented on the absence of any mention of unemployment. The Prime Minister (Mr N. Chamberlain) referred to the historical nature of their Majesties’ forthcoming visit to Canada, which would afford a notable illustration of the special part their Majesties take in the life of the British Commonwealth. He added that the decision of their Majesties to take the opportunity to pay a short visit to the United States was also of outstanding importance. Mr Chamberlain went on deprecate a tendency to interpret the frank report by Ministers of deficiencies in defence arrangements as an admission that the plans of defence were an entire failure, or would have broken down if put to the test. The House might depend upon it that defects existed in the defence systems of all countries, although they did not hear so much about them. After referring to the duties given to Sir John Anderson (Minister of Civil Defence) Mr Chamberlain took up Mr Attlee’s suggestion that there was no authority to decide priority between Service Departments, and that there had been no strategic planning, and denied both those propositions.

In regard to the absence of a reference to unemployment, Mr Chamberlain said that in the Government’s view, it was to the encouragement of employment they should look in dealing with the situation. The proper function of the Government in relation to trade and employment was to try to create conditions under which industry itself could carry on with confidence and success. To that end the policy of the Government had been consistently directed. As to suspicions expressed by Mr Attlee concerning the . Government’s attitude to social services, Mr Chamberlain said there was no foundation for any suggestion that the Government was contemplating cuts in existing social services. The King’s Speech showed that the Government was still planning further provisions for public health. The Government was going to submit proposals for the earlier and more effective treatment of cancer, as to which, in its connection with nutrition, the Ministry of Health had engaged in far-reaching and comprehensive inquiries.