Evening star., 1952-02-06
Officials and Britons
In Capital Shocked
by News Of Death
| Embassy Statement Praise
King and Expresses
| sympathy for FomiIy

The death of King George vi
came as a shock to official WASH
ington and the large British COM
munity here.
Some Englishrnen were unaware
of his death until they saw the
Union Jack floating at half staff
In the early morning sunlight
over the Embassy on MasSachu-
sets avenue.
Ambassador Sir Oliver Franks
was notified in the early hours by
Charles Campbell. press officer for
the Embassy.
Affection for King Expressed.
The Ambassador issued this
statement:
All subjects OF the British
crown will have heard with great
est sadness of the death Of his
majesty King George VI.
"TIe stood in their loyal affec-
tions- as the personiflcation Of
simple goodness. courage and de-
votion to duty.
"He inspired the services and
devotion Of his people through the
long years of national peril.
"Our thoughts go out in deep
est and most respectful sympathy
to his family, particularly to his
daughter who is now our Queen"
Coincidence Book Opened.
An air of sadness pervaded the
great Embassy, where routine
work went forward as usual but
the stirring events in the home
land occupied every mind.
Employees who received the word
before they left home this morning
were dressed in subdued clothing.
The men wore dark ties and suits,
and the women added some
touch to their costumes to express
sorrow.
A large Book of Condolences"
was opened to those who wished
to express a brief sentiment.
Whether the completed book will
be sent to the Royal Family or re-
tanned in the Embassy records was
uncertain.
Flags f1uttered at half staff over
the Canadian, the Australian and
New Zealand Embassies, as well as
over those of South Africa, In
dia, Packistan and Ceylon.
Only the new Queen herself, it
was explained, can issue instruc-
tions as to the extent of formal
mourning. Meanwhile. ofhcial and
private social engagements were
Cancelled.
Weeks of Mourning Customary.
In the past. the death Of the
King has meant official mourning
periods of several weeks.
The sentiments of a colony Of
some 1000 in the various embas-
sizes and missions were shared by
John William Bowden, a security
guard at the British Embassy. who
served 81 years in the British
Navy.
Mr.. Bowden, who is from Barn.
staple, in North Devon, told a
reporter: 1--WE all feel very deeply
about the death of our King.
Often while I was in the navy he
inspected the ships on which I
served.
Many Canadians work with us
here at the Embassy, and I think
they feel the loss as deeply as we
from England feel it."
At Washington Cathedral. Spe-
cial prayers were said for the
King by the Very Rev. Francis
B. Sayre, jr., dean of the Cathe-
dral, at the morning service.
The chapel of the holy spirit
lin the Cathedral will be opened
for mourners desiring to pray to-
day for the departed monarch
Dean Sayre said. A memorial Serv-
lice for the King will be announced
later.
/ Many official and private en-
Igagements of a social nature were
being Cancelled. The community
Iof British Commonwealth subjects
lin Washington numbers up tf
t2, 900 employees Of various military
land civil missions and their fam
tiles.