Evening star., 1936-01-21

bill. There was intense feeling among
the Conservatives when the premier
announced that the King had con-
sented to such use Of the royal au-
thority, but it did not last, and the
King emerged from the crisis stronger
with the masses, if less popular with
aristocracy.
Interested in Masses.
The political bearing of the incident
on the constitutional position OF the
crown was effectively minimized In
the controversy between the parties
and the King, and members Of the
royal family, by their democratic par
ticipation in many events, continued
to win their way deeper in the af1ec-
tions Of the British people, at the
same time emphasizing the influence
of the crown as standing above ana
outside domestic party politics.
It seems that King George always
kept in mind the idea Of democratic
expansion Of the empire, for which he
pleaded in his Wake Up, England
speech, and his frequent utterances
always showed an interest in the
masses rather than in any particular
class. Among his sayings that i'm
pressed his people were:
BE thorough. Whatever you do, do
it as well as you can. Put your whole
heart and soulsinto it,"
Every day we recognize more fully
%1,a ;.,,~nrtov If nrotjon not OnlV
to the individual, but the life of the
nation"
Those who know the happiness OF
home life can sympathize with every
effort made to secure similar blessings
to their fellow creatures"
It is related that the King tele-
graphed his sympathy and solicitude
to Ramsay Macdonald when the lat
ter's wife was seriously ill. At the
time the man who became Great Brit
aims first Labor prime minister was
merely a leader of his party in the
House of Commons. Another example
of his kindly nature toward his sub
jects was his satisfying the desire Of
5-year-old boy to see his King. The
father had written to the King that
his son wanted to see him as ne
passed a certain railroad station and
when the royal train reached the des-
ignated place King George showed
himself at one of the car windows and
waved his hand at the child.
Tried to Avert War.
King George made every possible
aF 10 hn o,,fhrnols nf fhe
World War in 1914. When his perso-
nal appeals to the Emperors Of Rus
sia and Germany were of no avail and
his own country was plunged into the
war he issued a proclamation mobiliz-
ing the British Army and announced
an unwavering determination to fight
Until victorious. The King and Queen
and members of their family set them
selves to lending royal influence and
encouragement to every form of ma
tional activity in aid of the fighting
forces.
The royal household was placed prac-
tically on war rations and strict econ
omy measures were put in force. The
King announced that he would quit
the use of all alcoholic liquors for the
duration of the war and the example
was followed by the Lloyd George cab
met. Society functions and horse rae
ing were disapproved. The King and
Queen made frequent visits to NUM-
ticns factories and shipyards to en-
courage the workers. and when the
wounded began returning from the
front they went to the various hos
pitals throughout the British Isles te
cheer the wounded and comfort the
dying soldiers. The King also went
several times to France to see his SOL
diers and personally visited regions
devastated during the bombing OF
London by German airplanes and Zep-
pelins.
In 1915 King George ordered the
names of the German and Austrian
rulers stricken from the Order of the
Garter, and in July. 1917. he aban.
doned all German titles for himself
and family. At the same time he Is
sued proclamation to the effect that
kenceforth the royal house Of Great
Britain and Ireland would be known
as the house of Windsor instead Of
the house Of Sake -Coburg-G g-Gotha.
Observed American independence.
On April 20, 1917, the King attended
cathedral ceremony at London cele-
brating the entrance Of the United
States into the war. A year later he
became the first British sovereign In
history to participate in the celebra-
ton Of American Independence day
1t was then recalled that it was dur
ing the reign of his royal ancestor
George III, that England lost her
American colonies.
When the armistice was signed, NO
vember II, 1918, bringing to an end
the more than four years Of the World
War, King George spoke to great
crowds from the portico Of Bucking-
ham Palace and later attended q
thanksgiving service In London. In q
message to President Wilson he said:
In this glorious hour, when the
long struggle of nations for right, JUS
tice and freedom is at last crowned by
triumphant peace, greet you, Mr..
President, and the great American
people in the name of the British ma
ton.
"At a time when fortune seemed to
frcwn and the issues Of war trembled
In the balance the American people
stretched out the hand of fellowship
to those who, on this side of the
ocean, were battling for q righteous
cause. Light and hope at once shone
brighter in our hearts and q new day
dawned.
Together we have fought to q
happy end; together we lay down olI
arms in proud consciousness Of valiant
deeds nobly done.
"Mr. President. It Is on this day one
Of our happiest thoughts that the
American and British people. brothers
In arms, will continue forever brothers
in peace. United before by language
traditions, kinship and ideals, there
has been set upon our fellowship the
sacred seal Of common sacrifice"
Irish Problem Settled.
During the reign Of King George the
most serious trouble with the British
Empire was caused by India and
Southern ireland. the people Of both
Of which demanded independence and