Evening star., 1936-01-21

the. heavy casualties OF the British
Army. He spent at the front as
much time as he was allowed and
would have been willing to share the
hardships Of the troops had it been
possible.
In April. 1918, when things looked
bad for the allies and in most war
weary European countries Socialism
and even Communism seemed to be
taking deep roots, the Prince Of Wales
asked permission from his father to go
over the top with his battalion Of
Grenadiers. His argument was. "The
interests Of the country as we'll as
the dynasty demand that. If I am
killed you have several sons to sue
ceed to the throne. Yet, the effect
OF my action on the English people
will be such that the dynasty will be
strengthened for many years to come.
II come back, so much the better
and the effect on the public will pc
as great as If I had died at the
head Of my battalion"
Kings Favorite Son.
The Pince Of Wales was the Kings
favorite son, and yet he accepted
the princes suggestion. The whole
thing was stopped by Premier Lloyd
George, who, when the situation was
explained to him, said: "Sire, Your
Majesty is quite right, except that
you did not take into consideration
a third possibility. What will happen
in case the prince is made prisoner?
Won't the heir to the British throne
be an extremely important asset in
the hands Of the enemy? Won't that
mean that we shall have to accept
practically any terms the Germans
impose on us?"
After the war, the King tried to
avoid the limelight as much as pos
sible, endeavoring to leave the
laurels to those who actually fostered
the victory-Douglas, Haig, Allenby.
Jellicoe and Lloyd George. He was
less in prominence in England than
President Wilson in the United States
or Clemenceau and Poincare in France.
Shows Great Statesmanship.
But it was in the difficult situation
in the years which followed the war
that the King showed his profound
craftsmanship and knowledge OF
human nature. The old monarchies in
Europe were crumbling like sand
castles. Moscow generally was the
source of inspiration for all these new
ideas. England couldn't escape the
infection. The King. who represented
the traditions of the most ancient
aristocracy of Europe, was the first
to grasp that the old days had gone,
never to return, and he conformed
his actions to the new spirit.
When the general election in 1924
gave an enormous majority to the
Labor party, many of his close friends
and old peers of the realm advised
him to ignore the popular vote, dissolve
the new Parliament and hold new
faxed elections If necessary. He was
too wise for such trick. He in
trusted the responsibility OF govern
ment to Ramsay Macdonald, created
Labor peers and only few weeks
after taking Office the much-feared
Socialist fire-eaters became devoted
servants Of the crown.
Aided the Dominions.
Officially he never interfered witt,
the cabinet, but he used to have long
talks with the crown ministers and his
impartial suggestion, dictated only by
q desire to see his people happy ano
prosperous. were the indirect causes fol
many a good legislative act, passed in
| the last few years It was largely due
to his influence that the dominions
were granted almost complete inde'
pendence He realized that only BY
these means would a united empire
be achieved. Today when Canada
Australia and New Zealand are. fol
all intents and purposes, independent
countries. there is only one indis'
soluble link that ties them to the
mother country-the King.
Those in close touch with him say
that it was pathetic to see how mucf
the sovereign suffered during the gen.
eral strike, although the Socialists hae
made it plain that the movement wa!
in no way directed against the crown
George v disliked politics and had NJ
patience with those who had no cal
to interfere in political struggles be-
tween the parties. During the gen
eral strike, Lord Davidson, the for
mer Archbishop of Canterbury, tool
definite sides with the strikers ant
gave a sermon which the government
tried to prevent. The King was ex
tremely annoyed at IAN old man
meddling in thing which was NJ
concern Of his" and after a meetin,
Of the privy council, he turned to tn
archbishop and said in a rough tone
You go to the next room, want t,
have a word with you" A few mo
ments later very crestfallen arch
bishop joined his colleagues.
Il got the worst scolding I ever hat
in my life," he said. But I deserved
it."
The King is now dead Royalty will
continue to live in England as long a!
his successors are able to follow tn
example set them by this kind ane
wise sovereign, whose motto was, "Al
for my people, nothing for myself"
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