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By THOS. T.

CHAMPION, ,

Canadian Press Staff Writer.

,1 0TH at home and abroad . with cloud.in May, 1919,

the political sky was sombre ‘whenjiing ‘Edward VII was

. gathered to his at sud George Y reigned in

his stead.

King Edward-the “Uncle of Europe"—and the German Emperor had in the previous 12 months exchanged visits with every outward show of respect and urbanity. Neverthe- less, the feeling of distrust and suspicion between the two ‘peoples remained acute, even though King George reminded the Kaiser, when the latter attended the unveiling of the Nictoria Memorial in the early months of King Georges reign. of the “strong and loving ties of kinship and friendship” between the thrones and persons of thetwo Sovereigns.

Ksissfs Lost Visit.

, HAT visit was the last the Ger- man Emperor ever paid to .England. Competent observers ‘have recorded how the Kaiser then ‘persistently attempted, but in vain. "to ingratiate himself with Lord Kitchener. During that visit, foo, thousands of Londoners beheld the Kaiser, in shining armor, place him- self before the Victoria Memorial, and gaze along the tree-lined Mall. ‘Seven years later, on Armistice .Day, 1918, the long avenue down which the Kaiser had swept his fglance was filled with captured ‘German guns, and the Kaiser was ‘in flight. At home tho people, or at any rate the politicians, were still agi- tated over the question of curtailing the power of the House of Lords to veto Bills passed by the Commons. “Reform the Lords" had indeed been a Liberal cry for at least 50 years. The muttering grew to a. rumbling when Conservative peers at a. pri- vate meeting at Lansdowne House resolved, in advance of the measure being introduced into the Lords, to reject the Liberal government's Licensing Bill. The clash between the two Houses became intense ‘when the Lords threw out Lloyd George's drastic budget of 1909. Subsequently the Prime Minister, -l\lr. Asquith. fortified by the result '0f two general elections within 12 months, resolved upon introducing the Parliament Bill to curb the veto of the Lords. if the Lords would not pass the measure then Mr. Asquith would advise the King lg create such a number of new peers as would secure its passage.

Problem for the King.

The bitter feelings aroused by this controversy, and the delicate Jloiltlflll in which it placed King _Edward, are said to have hastened ‘that monarchs death. King Edward bar‘. found that be" could no more égifluenco the Kaiser to reduce the

i

ermau naval program than he could induce the House of Lords to

ass Lloyd George's budget. Bound up with this problem, of course. was the equally vital question of ‘Home Rule for Ireland. i These were the only major in- gredients in the seething kettle of gpolitical trouble when King George iassumed the mantle of monarchy. The Suffragottes, in their fanatical propaganda over "Votes for Tiomen,” were making life burden- some for cabinet ministers by in- cessant interruption of their lspeeches and the infliction upon them even of physical violence. The "shrieking sisterhood,” too, were lfsmashiu whole strestsful of win- dows, burning churches, firing let- fer boxes. There were threats of a wholesale strike among the railway "workers of Britain. and a. like dis- ‘content in several other great in- dustries. _ ' When Innis Gave lrs.

King George had had the privi- flege, which had naturally been de- pnied King Edward, of himself lis- ‘teuing to the earlier debates on the

eto both in the Lords and Con:- ,:mons. The controversy continued -bitterly between Lords and Com- hnous, and between Liberals and Emservatives, although it must bo

nfessed that t a great mass of actors manifested but an ldlo in- terest in the hubhub raging around Westminster. Meanwliilo King George was svcr at tho coll of those entitled to approach him. It is squal- Iy on record tbstF-with complete courtesy but with firmness-the lug refused audiences to certain f tho highly-born whowlssirsd to sin his ear but hsd no constitu- ionsl claim for tho privilege. lnslly the majority of the peers rougbt themselves to swallow what ust have been, quite naturally, s. ‘bitter pill. King George was thus saved the ecessity of creating sufficient new eers to ensure the passing of tho arliament Bill.- Concerning this ir George Arthur writes: "Tho oversign may have put his lips to n hitter draught when ho agreed- as constitutionally he was Almost and to agree-to exorcise a pro- rossfiva which was urgod on him mo: only by tho government in t olvor, but by the electorate which l ‘sd dolibsrsloly renewed its mau- kilto to that government. Surely

justify my actl

list compiled in the closing period of Mr. Lloyd George's premiership. Vital Irish Question. The emergence again into prom- inence of the Home Rule question formed an inevitable sequel to the passing of the Parliament Act. Three months before the war broke out a Home Rule Bill awaited

procedure was concerned, but the royal assent. The threat of civil war in Ireland. however, induced the prime minister, Mr. Asquith, to delay matters until an amending bill should give the Ulster counties the option of “contracting out." Meanwhile the Ulster Volunteers were drilling, and the position was gravely complicated further by an assurance said to have been given to troops at the great British camp in the Curragh that they would not be called upon to put down Ulster resistance. ,

It was at this stage that King George took a hold step, seemingly on his own initiative. His Majesty summoned to Buckingham Palace a conference of representatives of the government, the opposition. the Irish Nationalists and the Ulster Unionists. The King's words of welcome provoked some little com- ment. “My intervention at this

moment may be regarded as a new

departure,” said the King. “But the exceptional circumstances under which you are brought together Ilfor months we have watched th deep misgivings the course of events in Ireland. Tho trend has een surely and

steadily an appeal to force, and to-

day the cry of civil war is on the lips of the most responsible and sober-minded of my people. My apprehension in contemplating such a dire calamity is intensified by my feelings of attachment to Ireland

and of sympathy with her people, who have always welcomed me with

warm-hearted affection." '

The action of his Majesty in call- ing the conference was hailed 1n most quarters as but a forthright and ingenuous royol gesture in the search of peace for Ireland. Never- theless, it did not entirely escape criticism, on the ground that the King's intervention tended to pro- voke at least a. suspicion of "palace influence." In any event the con- ference proved abortive, and merely served to emphasize that agreement on Ireland's future form of govern- ment was, at that time of day, out of the question.

John Redmond’! bmrsnce. Less than s fortnight later the dogs of war were unleashed. From his ssstJn the British Commons John Redmond, the great Irish Nationalist leader, delivered on the very eve of war the following preg- nant seutences: "1 say to the gov- ernment that they may to-morrow withdraw every one of their troops

of High Office.

By ‘EH05. T. CHAMPION.

kHThas been the writer's privi-

legs‘ to behold King George's public activities at first hand under very varied. conditions. I am inclined to think my first glimpse of his Majesty and his gracious partner furnishes, in some ways, the most interesting of these recollections.

It was to Sheffield, the greet city of steel and cutlery, that the than Duke and Duchess of York paid s visjt to reopen the prin- cipal hospital in 1895. Sheffield in tboso days wss a grim town. Even its main streets were nar- row and ill-paved. The Duke sud Duchess bad than been married loss than two years. They were still unaccustomed to appearing bcforo largo crowds, and bad dif- ficulty in concealing a certain dif- fidsnca. The outlers and grind- ors, tho colliors and lronworksrs

nifsr moro nauseous cup was to bo presented to him 10 years later

on a prime minister, who ,n thing for the feelings org; ov- ersign, and less than not lllfd! ‘the prssilgo of tho Upper Rmlso. ‘snllfnittld-lllbmlllioll is smelly tho term-anon df

i ees must ask pormllion to d0- c lno tbo honor sftor it bod boon

of Sheffield know llttls ‘about royalty st first bond, hut tho town mods s bravo endeavor to hide its soot and certain other unlovoly features underneath s [root show of Vonstisn malts, popor flowers and other codvon- tfouol stroot decoration of that

on. ' -

Tho Duke sad Duchess on their part sddptod what was than tbo conventional method with Roy-

lflnounccd in tho goblin press." Thole latter oboorvo on! If! obvi- QQLQQQ osdott Ibo bills

lty f knowlodgiug blic oo- ie-issilnonlsptiisoo

nothing, so far as constitutional l

Care intensely

HE profound estebm in which King George and Queen Mary

are held is based upon the con- viction of millions of people that they and their whole family really do care intensely about the welfare of their subjects and pursue it year in and year out by every means in their power, do- clares D. C. Somervell 1n a recent book. He says: “It is no secret that the King is keenly interested in politics, and tho Queen in all that concerns health, housing and thvdomestlc wel- fare of the people. And, in spite of the triumphs of political fem- inism, this is exnctly the divi- sion of interests which the ordin- ary man and woman approves. Some men live in history as the authors of a single outstanding achievement. Others build per- haps a sufsr and steadier reputa- tion upon a thousand unostents- tious actions. It ls high up in the second of these classes that King George will find his place."

Wrote? Czar

On Eve of War

King George Penned an Ofier of Mediation in Crisis.

NLY the scantiest records havr

yet been made public of King George's personal intervention l1 matters concerned with the conduc of the war, and it is improbable r full account will he given for many years. His Majesty has never had the flair for European politics which was so notable in King Edward, and when King Edward had skil- fully tried and failed it was per- haps hardly llkely that King George would attempt to pursue the same line of amiable overture. It is known, however, that in those fate- ful days just before August 4, 1914, when Great Britain was stand- ing for the moment outside the vor- tax, and when Russia and Austria were already mobilizing, King George with his own hand wrote a Vlast earnest appeal to the ill-fated ;Czar, offering any service which it was possible for a British King to summon, in the way of mediation. King George's only endeavor to follow his father's example in mak- ing visits to foreign capitals oc- curred in April, 1914, when with Queen Mary he went to Paris to return the visit which Prsslden Poincare had paid hare the previous summer. The King's speeches at all the big banquets in the French Capital were studiously non-polit- ical. Whether his Majesty then keallzed even better than his Minis- ters that the clash of arms was s lmatter of weeks only is a. matter {certain to remain hidden for many iyears to come. When the Earl of lDerby became Ambassador at Paris _,soon after the close of the war the King attended the first Reception given at the Paris Embassy.

from Ireland. The coast of Ireland will be defended by her armed sons from foreign invasion, and for thl: purpose armed Nationalist Cath- olics in the South will be only tot ‘glad to join arms with the armed Protestant Ulstermen in the North.” To close here this review of the King's personal associsti with lrlsh political matters one may refer to his Majesty's visit to Bel- fast, following the passing of the Home Rule Bill of 1920. D. C Somervell, the well-known public- ist, in referring to the speech of the King asking for peace, for- bearance and conciliation through- ‘out all Ireland-though looking beyond the frontiers of the six ‘counties—wrif.es: “Whether these things were his own suggestion is .a question on which much has been surmised, though the secret has

Impressed Wm. Friend!‘ Touch Despite Ceremonies

‘been very properly kept."

an open lsndau the royal visitors preserved a most rigid posture of the body. The Duchess inclined her head first to left, then to right with almost mechanical precision. Likewise, the Duke, holding his silk list two inches above his head, bowed to loft and right with the same regularity. No doubt this automatic method of acknowledgment was duo in part to nervousness, although it

any members of the Royal Family adopted a less formal attitude tn a progress along the highway.

As Prince oi‘ Wain. HE writers‘ next encounter with the King, although of a trifling character, was not with- out interest. The Duke and Duchess of York had become Prince and Princess of Wolos, and they were paying s visit to Lord Derby (father of tho proo- ent peer) at Knowsloy, nosr Liv- erpool. Their Royal Hfghuonoo travelled in n csr attached to tbs ordinary Liverpool express, which was stopped st Huytou. On tho platform to moot them woo Lord Derby and his sgout. The only others present wore s police fn- spector and sergeant and a couple of nswspapermcn.

when King Gsorgo and Quoon Mary have svsr boon ollowod to take s holiday frso from tho It»,- toution of tho public bsvo boon when they llsvo socoptod tho hoo- pltsllty of such personal frlmds as tho Earl of Darby and tho Duke of Dsvonlhirs. Tbs folk of lbs countryside surrounding such noble residences so Knowsloy sud

l

For PubliciGoodlf

' Life Guards who was paraded be-

was quite a few years later before '

Probably the only occasional

Ffiflglpfi,

1910 “ V socodol to throne on death of Edward VII. u

- 11

His Majesty crowned st Westmin-

fisdx; sud at Delhi as Emperor of a.

1912. Outbrssk of Balkan War.

1918 The King makes ststo visit to Bor- lin. Receives Premier of France.

1914 Civil war threatened in Ireland. Archduke Ferdinand assassinated. Great War opeusuGol-maus repulsed in First Battle of the Marne. King visits troops in Franco.

" 1918 The Kin: reviews Grand 111m and armies in Franco. Injured when horse rears. Canadians in German gas attack at Ypres. 1916 His Majesty presents $500,000 to Treasury after curtailing state func- tions. Easter Rebellion in Dublin. Battle of Jutland. 1917 . The‘ King changes name of Royal House from Hanover to Windsor. Revolution takes Russia out of wax‘ as Unltsd States enters.

1918 Ludeudorfrs last bid for victory. Allies great counter-attack leads to collapse of Germany; Austria, Bul- garia and Turkey sue for peace. Revolution starts in German fleet. The Armistice. 1919 Peace Treaty signed. First trans- atlantic flight by Alcock and Brown, British airmsn._ '

1920 ' - The League of Nations comes into being.

1921 Irish Free State created. The King visits Northern Ireland.

1922. Egypt accorded independence. Wash- ington naval limitations treaty signed. _

v 1923 Socialists form government, first

Highlights of the Reign

192i Conservatives return to power. 025 Canada House opened by the King. Hindsnburg president of Germany. Locsrno treaties signed. 1926 General strike settled without bloodshed. 1 v’ lConferonce dc- ilnos new Dominion status. Ger- many enters league. - 1927 Kellogg-Bruno pact outlaws war. ‘ 1928

The King contracts chill at Armiv tice ceremonies; world-wide anxiety as illness becomes grave. Prince of Wales hurries home from Africa. 1929

Thanksgiving services throughout Empire for recovery of King. Labor wins general election.

1930 Naval treaty signed at London. First Indian,Round Table Confer- ence. Dominlon's new status ratified. 1931 National ministry succeeds Labor, the King returns hurriedly from Scotland. Gold standard ‘ ndoned. Statute of Westminster signed. 1932 Britain raises‘ tariff walL First Empire trade pacts emerge from Ottawa Economic Conference.

Nazis under Adolf Hitler sells power in Germany. World Economic Conference in London fails. "Ger- many and Japan quit League of Nations. 1934

India granted new constitution. Prince George and Princess Marina married. Albert of Belgium killed. Dollfuss of Austria assassinated. Alexander of ‘Yugoslavia and Bar- thou of France assassinated. Threat of European war averted. 1935

Germany declares she is reamed and denounces the Versailles treaty. Britain, France and Italy strive for peace at Stress. League condemns Germany. Empire joins in honor-

time in nation's history.

Monarclfi Thought for Escort Drought Understanding Vill- Runw-

sofno client, indeed, King George on ascending the Throne minimized the pomp and pageantry assocla‘ with his station. Per- haps this was due in pert to force of circumstances rather than of choice, but it is a fact that the trooping of the color on the King's birthday, the stats opening of Par- liamen and other ceremonies peculiar to the British Crown have been conducted. with rather loss ornatoness than in the time of his father. King George, for instance, quickly_put a. stop to the practice of finding some of the expense con- nected with the furnishing of the soverelgnb escort out of the psy of the troopers themselves. On many occasions during the present reign when the weather has proved unkind for such a ceremonyvss a royal levee, King George has cancelled the carriage prooemion in. order that tho escort might not be subject to superfluous work. "How long does it take to clean the white sheepskin!" once asked Queen Victoria of a. trooper of the

fore her to exhibit some change in equipment. "Thirty hours, Your Majesty," came the reply of the sol- dier, who was startled to be directly addressed by so august a personage. What the troopers who participate in ceremonial guarding of the King think of King George himself is related by Sir George Arthur. “The

‘troops, regarding the King rather he a mllitn chlsffai tbs as the

instinct which loads them to avoid congregatiug in large numbers to witness the arrival of Royal guests. Nevertheless, one would have difficulty in finding a resident of any degree who had not contrived, in some wsy, to get a glimpse of the exalted guests of his Lordship or his Grace.

When Britain Declared War. SIGNIFICANT feature of tho rslstions existing between

Sovereign and people was afforded during tbs Grout War, when im- rnsnse crowds, comprising psoplo of all degrees, instinctively goth- orsd round Buckingham Palace, both in tho opening days of tbo_ war and at its closo. Upon that August night in 1914, following tho declaration of war, Londoners in thousands, for no ostensible reason. m tho four quarters of the mo polls to tbs great space fronting tho Pslsoo. osmilllly. this stout trek was o sub-conscious dos: tlon by tho muses of sympathy and sup- port to bsod of tho stoto in on tourists. Thurs soof oir Mojootios was all o more

ing the King on his Jubilee“ I

Troops Regard King ' As Their Chieftain

head of a political or even s con- stitutlonal state, are keenly, if quits respectfully, critical of his personal appearance. King George is Ito them-without a shadow of disre- pect-the ‘old-gentleman.’ The march past in the quadrangle is as much, perhaps more, an inspection of the King by the troops as the converse. ‘The old-gentleman looked smart to-dsy.’ ‘The old- gentleman wasn't half fed lup.’ Such are the expressions which may be heard in barracks when the trap- pings of ceremony are flung on to the beds."

II!!! ROYALTY MOURNED DEATH OF PRINCE JOHN

HN’ discussing the domestic life of

the King and Queen it is scarcely presumptuous st this time of Jubi- lee to‘ touch upon a less fortunate circumstance of their wedded life. There has never been any element of secrecy in regard to certain dis- pensations of fortune which have befallen them.

One wintry Sunday night imme- diately after the close of the war it was announced Ahat their Majes- tiea’ youngest child, Prince John, had died that day at the age of 13. N» attempt was made to cloak the fact that this child had been denied full development, both mental and physical. It was never expected, indeed, that he would grow to mun- hood. In such circumstances their ltiujesties held it fitting that the funeral of the Prince should take place under the quietest possible conditions, and that the ordinary life of the Court should boas little disturbed as possible.

While the tens of thousands were swarming before the gates of tho Palace the King and Queen crime out into the quadrangle, attended merely by an oquerry and a lady-lluwsitlng, and strode backward sud forward in full view of the concourse. For half an hour the little royal parade was coptinued. then the King and Queen returned inside and the people dispersed. '