‘SOMEWHAT ILL-TIMED’

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 May 1939, Page 5

‘SOMEWHAT ILL-TIMED’

THE DUKE OF WINDSOR’S BROADCAST COMMENTS IN UNITED STATES. RECEPTION IN AMERICA EXCELLENT. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. NEW YORK, May 9. The “New York Herald Tribune" printed the Duke of Windsor’s address on the front page, using the full text but with the emphasis placed on the circumstances of the delivery rather than on what he said. After referring to the international situation, the "Herald-Tribune’’ commented editorially: "The times are serious for Royal visiting and the somewhat ill-timed message broadcast by the Duke of Windsor, with its completely ill-conceived suppression by the British Broadcasting Corporation, falls oddly in the midst of his brother’s progress.” The paper added that the unexceptionable sentiments expressed in the speech were of a sort having little meaning except when they come from men in positions of influence and responsibility such as the Duke no longer holds. “One could not help wondering first, why the appeal was made, and, second, why the British are still so nervous about their former King.” The National Broadcasting Corporation announced yesterday that it understood the Duchess of Windsor had had a hand in writing the speech, and added that it was ..rebroadcasting a recording of the speech to Europe. “Countries in which the address was banned may hear it,” it was stated. “The reception in America was excellent. The Duke’s voice was clear, firm, youthful, and free of the emotion which marked his last broadcast after his abdication.” KING’S PERMISSION SAID TO HAVE BEEN OBTAINED. LONDON, May 9. The Verdun , correspondent of the British United Press says it is reliably stated that the Duke of Windsor communicated with the liner Empress of Australia by radio telephone, and discussed the broadcast with the King, from whom he obtained permission to deliver it.