Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-12-23
The King
Mrs. Simpson
Continued From First Page.)

Continued From First Page.)
If Edward VIII proposed to place
his American friend beside him on
the throne Of England, Wallis Simp-
sons appointment with the Queen
mother would have been paramount.
The accolade of Queen Mary, epitome
Of conservatism. would have done
more than anything else to clear the
way for royal marriage.
London Flooded With Rumors.
But the appointment was not kept.
Instead Mrs. Merryman left for the
Belvedere at noon Thursday to direct
the packing Of Wallis luggage at 10
Cumberland terrace. BY midafter-
noon the bags had been packed and
newspaper men watched them depart
in one Of the Kings cars. A food Of
rumors inundated London.
The car with the luggage stopped
at the fort only long enough to pick
up few more pieces and then headed
for the port of New Haven. Some
time after the sun sank over the tall
trees Of Windsor Park Wallis Simpson
babe adieu to the man she was never
to see again as King. A royal car
whisked her to New Haven. BY dawn
she had crossed the English Chan
mel, had landed in Dieppe and was
on her way to Villa Lou Wei ct
Cannes.
Historical novels will be written
about those indelible hours at Fort
Belvedere. Imagination can do much
with the casting of that final die, the
problems that were faced and pushed
aside, the emotions of those two who
were changing the course Of an en-
pire. What novelist wouldn't sell his
soul for a glimpse into the mind of
Wallis Simpson as she peered through
the rear window Of limousine and
watched the lights of Fort Belvedere
recede into an English mist?
Edward VIII, born to the purple
and reared to reign, was left behind
to relinquish his birthright for the
opportunity to exercise privilege I'M
denied the humblest of his subjects.
Backed by Kings Party.
The man who was King knew he
could demand another throw of the
dice. He knew there was a Kings
party willing and anxious to fight for
his right to marry a commoner-even
a twice-divorced American-and keep
his throne. But he knew also that
such q fight might tear the empire
asunder and would unquestionably
leave scars impossible to heal.
; 1t was situation unparalleled out
side of fiction, and it produced an
atmosphere completely bizarre. Ex-
cept for King Arthur and his Knights
Of the Round Table. I doubt If Eng
land ever developed so chivalrous .
group as one branch of the Kings
party.
With two friends, one American and
one English, left 16 Cumberland ter-
race at midnight a day or so after
Wallis had gone to France, but before
the King announced his decision. My
friends both were ardently pro-King
and they knew I shared their enthu-
siasm. They asked me If I wanted to
attend a secret meeting of the Kings
loyal supporters and I assured them I
would be delighted.
We TAXED to the side entrance of a
large home in the heart Of London's
best residential district. In the hall
way We were met by our host, a men,
Der of the House Of Lords. After q
quick introduction we were led up .
flight Of stairs to an upper hall. A man
was stationed at a closed door at the
head OF the stairs At 4 word from
our host he opened it and permitted us
to enter. We passed through a second
doorway into a private study.
Air Electric With Excitement.
There, grouped around . fireplace,
were a number Of members of both
Houses of Parliament as well as other
less important but equally loyal friends
Of King Edward. Although the meet
ing was being conducted with typical
British restraint, the air was electric
with the submerged excitement of
those in attendance.
1t is impossible. Of course, to dis
close what happened there. But
am sure am violating no confidence
when say that every man present
was prepared to carry on with the
King to any extreme.
For n moment noe q v.nt.a ID