The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-01-20
STRONG WILL
SHOWN BY
MONARCH
Death Is Held At Bay
After Hope Once Had
Been Abandoned
CONTINUED from Page u

The council was created as
the king, under the watchful
eyes of Lord Dawson of Penn,
his personal physician, penned
a shaky, half-scrawled George
R l" on a document drawn up
a few moments before by the
privy council, which met in a
sitting room adjoining the
sick chamber.
Lord Dawson stood by to
see that too great a strain
was not placed upon the ruler
hose condition remained
grave.
Crisis Believed Near
A bulletin issued this morning
said:
The King has had a more
reStful night.
There is no substantial
change to record in His Males
tvs condition"
It was believed he would reach
a crisis tonight or tomorrow
There was no doubt he was very
weak, breathing difficulties put
ting great strain upon his heart.
After signing the momentous
document, King George fell back,
breathing heavily from even this
simple effort, and then relaxed as
a man fighting a battle for life,
relieved of his official responsible
ity.
Immediately after this ordeal
the doors of the sick room were
closed and oxygen was admins
tered by a portable apparatus kept
IN one corner of the room
Tent Not Being Used
Contrary to some reports an
oxygen tent is not being used. The
oxygen is sprayed into the room
periodically or at special times
when His MajeSty'S respiration is
accelerated. International News
Services informant described the
method as "just like giving the
King a breath of sea shore air."
His Majesty, it was reliably
learned, has not talked to any
one, not excluding the Queen,
since his condition became serious.
Doctors are unwilling to risk in
creasing his weakness by talk
fhof IF hic cNlinSEi@,,e
ones.
The Kings only act since his
illness was the signing of today's
document, it was learned.
The royal family has been tax
ing turns remaining in an adjoin-
ing sitting room. With the door
leading to the sick room kept
closed in fear of lowering the tenn
perature.
The privy council assembled in
sitting room between the Kings
and the Queens bedrooms on the
first floor of the great red-brick
mansion, corresponding to the
second floor in an American
building. Immediately after ar.
rival of the ministers from Lon
don who were to take part.
The door between the sitting
room and the sick chamber was
wide open, in accordance with
the constitutional practice that
the council would be held in the
presence" of the King. 1t was
considered too great a strain to
hold the meeting actually in the
bedroom.
Queen Mary was absent, doc
tors agreeing that participation,
even though she was to be on
the council of state being created,
would also be too great strain
upon her. The Prince of Wales,
and the Duke of York also were
absent, being en- route here from
London by airplane at the time.
Lunch With Queen
Lord Dawson, acting in his
dual capacity as member of the
privy council and physician to
the King, acted as go-between
for the council and His Majesty.
With the Shaky. half-scrawled
George R. l." which the mon
arch penned on the paper, he
gave up-only temporarily, an
empire hoped-his sovereign pow
ers over his devoted subjects.
The document then was handed
to Sir Maurice Hankey, clerk of
the council, for transportation to
offices of the privy council in Lon
don.
The councillors then withdrew,
and proceeded downstairs for an
intimate luncheon with the Queen.
Those present were Ramsay Mac
Donald, lord president of the
council: Viscount HailSham, lord
chancellor; Sir John Simon, home
minister; Lord Wigram, the Kings
secretary; the Archbishop of Can
terbury, Lord Dawson, and Sir
Maurice Hankey.
only once before, when he
cruised on a royal yacht in the
Mediterranean for his health in
1925, had such council been Gre
ated. It was necessary then be-
cause of his absence, but in 1928
and today because he was too i'll
to reign.
The council Of state in 1928,
during the Kings previous serious
illness, consisted of the queen,
Prince of Wales, Duke of York,
the prime minister, lord chancel-
lor and Archbishop of Canterbury.
The Archbishop Of Canterbury