Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-02
BY w. T. MARSDON.

On December 5, 1928. King George
appointed council of state to carry on
his duties during his illness.
The council consisted of Queen Mary
the Prince Of Wales, the Duke of York,
the Archbishop of Canterbury. the
prime minister and the lord chancellor
1t was not thought the need for this
council would exist fer long. One OF
two things seemed likely to happen in
few months. Either the King would
recover and resume his duties, or he
would die and the Prince Of Wales
would ascend the throne.
Neither Happened.
But neither happened. The King
didn't die, but he did not recover suf-
ficiently to resume all or nearly all his
duties The council remained in ex-
istence.
A council of state is clumsy way
of carrying cut the duties of the King.
and there were special difficulties in
the way of this particular council func-
tioning properly
The King, after he went to Bognor,
resumed lighter of11cial duties, such as
signing state papers and occasionally
giving short audiences to his minis
tiers and members of the foreign diplo-
matte body.
The then prime minister, Stanley
Baldwin. took the view that the King
should be kept informed on all affairs
of state, and that 1t was especially
desirable he should be consulted on
government appointments to the diplo-
matte, colonial and fighting services. as
well as the Church of England and
the civil service.
Queen Mary and the Prince of Wales
supported that view and Queen Mary
became the medium by which all
affairs of state were laid before the
King. She communica ced his views and
wishes to the council
State Business Fell Behind.
But this proved cumbersome and Diff
ficllt. Many important papers re-
manned unsigned because the council
hoped the King would be able to deal
with them himself, and many govern
ment appointments for the same rea-
son remained unconf1rmed. Other state
business fell into arrear.
Such was the situation toward the
later days of the Kings stay at Bognor,
throw volume of work on the mon
arch that could not be put to one side,
was looming.
Something had to be done.
A London paper stated that the estab-
lishment OF regency could no longer
be delayed. The prime minister sum-
moned a meeting of the cabinet in the
morning. Two hours later Mr.. Bald
win went to Bognor and saw Queen
Mary.
Becomes Historic Interview.
1t was a, historic interview. The
prime minister put briefly before her
majesty imperative reasons for q re-
gency, pointing out the delay and con-
fusion in dealing with affairs of state
and the urgent necessity of providing
way by which the duties of the King
could be performed effectively and ex-
peditiously, especially in view of the
coming election.
There will be no further delay or
difnculty and there will be no need to
consider a regency" was the confident,
quiet reply of Queen Mary.
The interview between the Queen and
the Kings first minister then termi-
mated. Mr.. Baldwin related the gist of
it to his wife at the dinner table at
No. 10 Downing street that night.
Queen Mary, he said, lis one of the
greatest women of her age and the
most ,masterful have ever met; there
will be no need to consider a regency
Queen Ends Delay.
From the moment of the interview
Queen Mary virtually acted as Queen
Regent, and all delay in affairs of state
ceased
Her majesty set quietly and coolly to
work on the task she had undertaken.