Evening star., 1950-10-29
Swedish King Gustaf
Dies al q; Oldest
Reigning Monarch
Continued From First Page,

Continued From First Page.>
time the flag was lowered to half
staff.
Princess Sybilla, the announce
nnent said. was the only royal per-
son present at the moment of the
kings death.
A tall gaunt man, beloved by his
people, King Gustaf ruled Sweden
for 43 years-the longest reign of
any King in Swedish history.
Under his rule Sweden developed
Into a modern democratic state
while the King progressively ex-
ercised fewer and fewer of his
royal prerogatives as the years
rolled on.
His people called him "the old
man OF the castle" and his demo-
cratic views encouraged them to
adopt a policy of equal voting
rights, woman suffrage. a revamp-
ing of Parliament, an increase of
parliamentary control over foreign
policy and a far-reaching social
security program.
Played Tennis in His sos.
At an age when most men are
content to retire to their fresides
with carpet slippers, rocking chair
and pipe, King Gustaf refused to
regard himself as old. Even when
well past his mid-80s his stopped
6-foot frame was still a regular
sight on the tennis court and he
went hunting until he passed his
9lst birthday and had to shoot
from chair. He despised golf
as an "old mans game" and re-
fused to carry a stick until he
was 80.
Although harassed by failing
health after turning 90, the King
presided over his cabinet every
FRIDAY In his writing room at
Drottningholm and took an active
interest in domestic and foreign
affairs.
My legs are bad, but there is
nothing wrong with the head" he
is reported to have said recently.
Twice in his reign, war threat
ened to engulf Sweden, but King
Gustaf turned back the menace
with a militant policy of neutral
ity.
Wrote Warning to Hitler.
In April. 1910, when the Nazi
legions were rolling over Denmark
and Norway, King Gustaf wrote
Hitler personally that Sweden
would resist without delay and
with all her power every invasion
OF her neutrality. especially every
attempt to militarily cross her
borders"
Before the outbreak of the war
ne had expressed to Hitler his dis
approval of the Nazi anti-Semitic
policy and advised the Fuehrer to
ABANDON it. When persecution
continued. King Gustaf threw
open the doors of Sweden to refu-
gees from all parts of Europe
while Swedish relief was being
sent to suffering countries.
When Hungary began to. perse-
cute the Jews King Gustaf sent
a personal appeal asking that the
persecution be stopped. When it
continued he arranged for Hun
garlan Jews to receive the pro-
lection Of the Swedish state and
thus saved the lives of many
thousands.
Cabinet Crisis in World War.
After the outbreak of World
War I in 1914. King Gustaf in
vited the Norwegian and Danish
monarchs to a meeting at Malmo
where agreement was reached to
combine the interests of the three
contries during the conflict.
His speeches to his people dur
ing that crisis provoked a consti-
tutional crisis and the Kings
ministers resigned. They said
King Gustaf had exceeded his
constitutional authority by max
ing speeches which had not re-
ceived their prior approval.
Never" the King retorted to
his opponents, will I yield the
right to speak to the Swedish
people without restraint"
In his youth as Crown Prince,
Gustaf was criticized as being
"headstrong" and bit of a play
boy" but this criticism soon van
ished after he ascended the throne
on December 8, 1907. after the
death of his father, Oscar II.
Was Uncrowned Monarch.
He refused elaborate coronation
ceremonies and insisted upon a
ceremony as simple as the inaugu-
ration Of the President of the
United States. He merely took an
oath of Office when he ascended
the throne. thus becoming Swe-
den's first uncrowned King.
The union of Norway and Swe-