The Washington times., 1936-12-07


Before and after Baldwin made
his declaration, repeated efforts
were made to force debate of the
issue on the floor of the House.
But the speaker of Commons
aided by Attlee himself, foreStalled
public discussion at the present
time, the labor leader indicating
his willingness to wait until the
proper time has come. Attlee
said:
II think everyone will agree
with the sentiments expressed
by the Premier"
May I ask If one can assume
from this statement that His
Majesty has not come to a con-
clusiOn on the advice submitted
to him on the subject of the
mOrganatic marriage proposal.
ASKS INFORMATION
EFF that Is so, it is difficult
to press the PremiOr for fur.
ther information at the present
time.
81 would like, however, to ask
him to bear in mind, as / am
sure he does, that the House and
country are deeply anxious to
receive the fullest information
possible, as without that it is
quite impossible to have any
proper discussion Of this mat
ter"
Baldwin said in reply:
"I am obliged to Mr.. Attlee
for the point he has put.
'T was not aware he was
going to put it and l am CRATE
full to him and quite agree with
every word.
81 shall be only too glad at
the suitable moment to give the
whole information to the house
which 1 am able to. While l
am always willing to answer
supplementary questions 1 hope
the house will agree with me
at this moment in a situation
that is so grave and anxious and
while the King is considering
these matters and has not made
up his mind, l should feel great
difficulty in offering infOrma-
ton in answering supplementary
questions, especially considering
that the answers l should give
would have to be imprOviSed."
CHURCHILL PUTS QUESTION
Winston Churchill. former chan
cellor of the eXchequer. and .
staunch supporter Of the monarch
IN the crisis then took the floor
He said:
"May I ask the premier
whether he can give us aSSur-
ance of no irrevOcable step"
There were cries of NO" anc
Shame" and "Sit down." But
Churchill continued:
"That no irrevOcable step will
be taken before the house re-
ceives a full statement not only
upon the personal but the con-
StitutiOnal issues involved.
Cheers.
"May ask him to bear in
mind these issues are not merely
personal to the present Occu-
pant of the throne but they af-
feet the entire constitution"
HOUSE PROTESTS
Once again there were loud cries
of "sit down" and some boolng
whereupon Churchill said:
"Of course. if the house re-
sists my claim to put question
they will only add more impOr
tance to any words I may use"
"May 1 say that the Premier
haE spoken Of rumOr, but if he
were able to give assurance the
house would have a cOnStitu-
tiOnaI issue made before it, then
anxiety would not persist"
Again there were protests and
cries of "sit down." and the speak
er was oblidged to tell Churchill
to confine what he had to say to a
simple question.
Churchill said:
"May I repeat the question.
am most grateful for what the
premier has said but 1 ask there
should be an assurance that no
irrevOcable decision will be taken
until at least a statement has
been made to parliament of the
constitutional issues involved
and of the procedure involved
in such an event."
Here the rotund ex-chancellor
sat down amid renewed cries of
"order" and persistent demands
from all parts of the house that
he take his seat.
Evades Question
George Lambert, national lib.
eral. then addressed the house:
"May / ask if the premier is
aware there is deep personal
sympathy in the house with
him."
Loudly cheered, Baldwin then
arose. He said:
"In answer to Mr.. Churchill, I
must inform him at the moment
It Is impossible for me to give
. reply.
'T do not know yeti cannot
know yet-what the King may
decide or how he may decide.
1t is quite impossible for me to
enter into hypothetical cOnsid-
eratiOnS." Loud cheers.
Baldwin was obviously touched