Evening star., 1936-12-10

dispute because Of the cheering
crowds. I honor and respect him for
the manner in which he behaved at
that time.
Il have something which I think
will touch the House. have here q
penciled note sent TO me by his
majesty this morning. and have his
authority for reading it.
1T Is just simply in pencil, and It
says:
THE Duke of York and the King
have always been on the best terms as
brothers and the King is confident
that the duke will deserve and receive
the support of the whole empire
Now, sir. I would say q word or
two on the Kings position. The King
| cannot speak for himself. The King
has told us that he cannot carry and
does not see his way to carry those
almost intolerable burdens of kingship
without q woman at his side, and we
know that this crisis, II may use the
word, has risen now rather than later
from that very frankness of mis-
majesty's character which is one Of
his many attractions.
1T would have been perfectly pos
sible for his majesty not to tell me
this at the date when he did and not
to have told me for some months to
come. but he realized the damage that
might be done in the interval by gosr
sip and rumors and talk and he made
on purpose to avoid what he felt
might be dangerous not only here but
throughout the empire. to tina. very
moral force Of the crown which we
are all determined to sustain.
He told me his intention and he
has never wavered from it. want
the house to understand that. He
felt it was his duty to take into anxious
consideration all representations that
his advisers might give him, and not
until he had fully considered them
did he make public his decision.
No Sign Of Conflict.
There has been no sign of conflict
in this matter My efforts during
these last days have been directed, as
have the efforts of those most closely
around him, in trying to help him
make the choice which he has not
made, and we have failed, and the
King has made his decision TO take
this moment to send his gracious
message because Of his confident hope
that by that he will preserve the unity
of this country and the whole empire
and avoid those factious differences
that might so easily have arisen.
These last days have been days oi
great strain. 1t was . great comfort
TO me and hope 1t will be TO the
house when I was assured before
left him Tuesday night by that init
mate circle that was with him at the
fort that evening that I had left
nothing undone that I could have
done to move him from the decision
at which he had arrived.
while there is not a soul among
us who will not regret this from the
bottom Of his heart, there is not q
soul here today that wants to judge.
I'VE are not the judges. His
majesty has announced his decision.
He has told us what he wants
us to do and think We must close
our ranks.
AT later stage this evening I shall
ask leave to bring in the necessary
bill so 1t may be ready for the first
time. printed and made available to
the members.
THE House will meet tomorrow ut
the usual time, IL O'Clock, when we
shall take the second reading and the
remaining stages Of the bill. 1t is very
important it should be passed into law
tomorrow and shall put on the order
paper tomorrow o motion to take the
private members time and suspend
the O'Clock rule.
Now I have only two other things
to say. The House will forgive me
for saying now what I should have
said a few minutes ago. I have told
the House that yesterday morning
when the cabinet received the kings
final definite announcement, ofncially
thev passed q minute and in accord
ance with it I sent q message to MS
majesty which he has been gooo
enough to allow me to read.
baldwin then read the message
sent to the King from the cabinet and
the Kings reply, both of which had
already been read in the House OF
Lords.)
Last Words on Subject.
my last words on that subject are
that I am convinced that where ]
failed no one could have succeeded
Those who know his majesty best
would know what that means.
This House today is theater that
is teing watched by the whole world
and let us conduct ourselves with tnat
dignity that his majesty himself has
shown in this hour Of his trial. Ana,
whatever be our regret at the contents
Of the message, let us fulfill his wishes
| to do what he asks and do 1t with
speed and let no word he spoken today
that the speaker or utterer OF 'that
word may regret in days to come.
Let no word be spoken that causes
pain TO any soul and let N not forget
today the revered. beloved dgure,