The Washington times., 1936-12-11
NOW
The AbdicGtiOn
And Future
AFTERMATH
BY HELEN ESSARY

ANA - 80 OANNS - - -
BY HELEN ESSARY
Perhaps another Shakespeare
will arrive to turn David and Wal
lis into Anthony and Cleopatra. I"
Meanwhile the Little King reminds
me Of Humpty Dumpty who sat on
q wall, of that Humpty Dumpty
who had a great fall and "all the
Kings horses and all the Kings
men couldn't put Humpty together
again."
A European Minister who knows
his way around, this morning gave
me background" for the abdica-
ton that has so tragically dam
aged British prestige.
David Windsor he said, has
never grown up. He has the man.
ner and the mentality of 17-year-
old boy. Too long was he the care
free Prince Of Wales. Such ire
sponsibility, however, is not en-
tirely his own fault. For the
British government overemphar
sized their Crown Princes role as
the salesman of the British EN-
pire. A careless visit to night
club was made to appear a sign of
his democratic independent per-
sonality. Slowly and persiStently
David Windsor was spoiled. And
he couldn't take it.
David WindSor's passion for Mrs.
Simpson was not the entire cause
of his abdication, the Minister de-
clared. But it was the straw that
finally broke Parliament's back.
The day after George v died, the
new King showed the people that
he had no intention of doing as
he was told and staying in the
compartment meant for kings. Dis
agreement followed disagreement.
Edward VIII was constantly bat
ting with Prime Minister Bald
win. So difficult was the Situa-
ton that Baldwin prepared to re-
sign from the Cabinet.
In August it was announced that
the Prime Minister was suffering
from a nervous ailment and had
to retire to his country place. His
real purpose was to give the coun-
try a chance to get accustomed
to Neville Chamberlain. But
Neville Chamberlain, though
strong man, could not achieve the
popularity of his half-brother, Sir
Austen Chamberlain. So Mr.. Bald
win recovered from his illness, and
came back to 10 Downing Street.
In midsummer the King an
nounced a forthcoming holiday
in Cannes with Mrs. Simpson.
Both Prime Minister and Cabinet
said this must not happen. The
King said he was going to France
regardless of what they thought.
Then the Ministers tried STRAIT
egg. "You must keep out of the
Mediterranean" they said. "It
Is too near revolutionary Spain"
"I shall do as you say" said Ed
ward VIII. The next day he
chartered a yacht and went for
cruise with Mrs. Simpson-not in
the Mediterranean, but in the
Adriatic.
The British government, so my
diplomatic friend believes, made
q great error in keeping the news
of the Kings infatuation out of
the home papers. If the story
had been gradually fed to the
public the public's disappearing
reaction would have sobered Ed
ward VIII. might even have al
tered his intentions.
But the British public didn't
dream of their monarchs state of
mind and heart. When Edward
VIII went to Wales, for instance,
he was cheered wildly, and he
said, "See. my people approve of
what I am doing"
With the eX-soldiers and a large
part of the working people David
Winsor, whether on the throne of
Great Britain or an exile on the
Riviera, will continue to be ire
mendously popular. The ex-sol-
diers, who always adore royalty,
used to see him during the World
War when his uniform was as
muddy as theirs. They enjoyed
thinking that this Prince was
also a human fellow.
Such popularity will probably
result in the formation of David
Windsor Party, with Winston
Churchill at the head.
The new King because of his in.
effectual personality can never
appeal to the public as did his
older brother. The David Wind
sor Party therefore will be a dis
rupting influence in the Empire
already critically stricken.
"It is not expected that the
abdication will improve Anglo
American relations" was the
final observation of my European
informant.
And by the way, David Windsor,
without a throne, is not a bad
catch for a poor girl from Balti-
more. His private income, an
nually, is about 100000 pounds,
or $500,000. Parliament will prob
ably vote an equal amount to sus-
tain Mr.. Windsor in exile.