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THE HONGKONG · TELEGRAPH, MONDAY, JUNE 6, 1938.
PRINCESS ELIZABETH WILL AUTOMATICALLY BECOME QUEEN OF ENGLAND
RIGID LAWS OF THE
BRITISH CONSTITUTION
By H. L. Percy
United Prese Staff Correspondent,
London.
Twelve-year-old Princess Elizabeth automatically be- comes queen-ruler of England at the exact moment her father, King George VI. ceases to be king.
The British constitution lays down that there must be no interregnum, and Elizabeth, as the King's eldest daugh- ter is heir presumptive and next in line of accession. Until Edward VIII, abdicated she was only second in line after her father, then the Duke of York.
Elizabeth, of cource, would lose, her position as first in line should her mother, Queen Elizabeth, give birth to a son, and she would drop still further for every additional son that was born. This is because boys al days take precedence in British fasy, whatever thele age; and also
why the Princess is heir presumptive and not heir apparent, although it is practically certain that the Queen will have no more children.
So far as anyone can foretel only death will remove King George from the throne, and presumably not for many years to come at that, but the constitutional law also applies should he abdicate, or is declared incopo. rcitated for uny reason. such as
Il-health.
WOULD AUTOMATICALLY BE QUEEN
It does not matter how, when or Be where the King should die. might fall from his horse and break his neck in India; he might be kiled
he
i
would she take the customary path to defend the faith, or any other oath until she was 10.
The Lord President of the Council (Lord Hailsham at present) would preside, and the council's first act would be to swear the oath of allegiance over the Great Seal of would then formally England. I approve the proclamation of Eliza- beth's accession, including the name by which she would be known, and the Duke of Gloucester's appointment as regent,
The Duke would then take his three and afterwards prominent oaths, eftizons, such as the Lord Mayor of London and the Mayor of West- minster, in whose borough Bucking- ham Palace lles, would be called into the room also to take the oath.
This would end the Privy Council, and the next act might either be the summoning of Parliament to take the oaths of allegiance and supre- macy, or the publle reading of the proclamation.
These could be held at any con-
In a 'plane crash In Australia; or evenient time in the next day or so might be peanssinated on the Con- tinent.
Elizabeth might be thousands In the case of George VI., the Privy of miles away at the time. But at Courel) met in the morning. Parlia- the accepted moment at which he died, ment took the oath in the afternoon, Elizabeth would Butomatically be and the proclamation was read In
the
of the next day. afternoon Queen, and history would record it
Up to the Reform Act of 1807 as the hour and day of her acces
Parliament was subject to dissolution stan.
on a change of sovereign but this is so no longer; on the contrary, the existing Parliment must meet at once, and even in the event of its having been dissolved it is tempor- arity resuscitated, and permitted to
the
Formal proclamations, signifying the people's acceptance, and coronation, signifying the Church's acceptance, would come later, but from that split second when King
CZECH PRESIDENT RELAXES
While European Ienders seek international understandings, a new and knotty problem develops in Czecho-Slovakia, as Sudeten Ger- muns demand an autonomous state dominated by Germany. Czech President, Dr. Eduard Benes, is shown with Mrs. Benes in a mo. ment of relaxation on their country estate of Sezimovo.Usti, near the nation's capital of Prague.
CHILDREN
“TRAPPED MENTAL HOMES
IN
"Parents Sign Away Their
29
Freedom"
George breathes his Inst, Elizabeth last for so long as six months if its "MANY mothers are urged into unwittingly signing
la henceforth Queen Elizabeth I, successor has not before that been
ruler of the greatest empire the elected. world is ever likely to know.
But should Elizabeth become queen
before she reaches her majority--18
her 18th birthday, April 21, 1944. She could sign no bills, exercise no royal prerogatives, or take any part in the affairs of State,
away their children's freedom, and stigmatising
The proclamation is rend from the them, perhaps for life, as mental defectives merely be balcony of Friary Court, James's cause the children were backward at school," Palace, and then at Charing Cross.
at the Royal Exchange.
years in the case of royalty-she Chancery Lane, just inside the limite Mr. W. Baker, secretary of the National Society for would be queen in name only until of the City of London, and finally Lunacy Law Reform, said this to a Daily Mail reporter,
Omcers of arms, in mediaeval commenting on the society's annual report, just issued. tabards and three-cornered hnts. attended by trumpeters and heralds, "Csacs of young people thus wrong- The mother was advised to send her take part in the ceremony. When her father was proclaimed, Elizabeth fully detained are being brought to to the training home, but did not watched the ceremony from a win our notice more and more frequent-know it was one for mental defec- dow near St. Jures's Palace; and ly," he declared.
Edward VIII, was proclaimed,
In fact, except for changing her title, Elizabeth's life would not be altered one jot.
A regent would take care of nil the royal, duties, at least until she was 18, and possibly until she was 21. Parliament passed a bill in February, 1037, providing for such an eventuality.
The Regency Bill, as it is called, lays down that the next adult in line of accession shall be regent it the
when
tives.
"Once a girl of this type finds he and Mrs. Simpson watched from "It is an iniquitous system that just herself forcibly detained, it hap-
ens, in most cases, because a child cannot read and write
that all her a window of the paluce.
parents' efforts to secure release This ends the established ferm- properly though he may be perfectly
prove unavailing. allties until such a time as when normal in every other way-sends Elizabeth is old enough to take caths him to 'special schools' which are hereelt, and the date of her corona-nothing more than "feeders' mentul
ion is to be announced, when there Institutions.
IF THEY ESCAPE
"It is for more difficult to secure
sovereign is under 10 at time of would be a similar ceremony to the "I at 10 children at free schools the release of a mental defective than accesalon. In Elizabeth's case this reading of the accession proclama-are still below standard--and it is a would mean that her uncle, the Duke tion.
of Gloucester, would be regent, and
after him the Duke of Kent.
DUKE OF WINDSOR
IS BARRED
PASTOR WHO
Government
badly defined standard-they become subject to the Local Mental Deficiency Committee.
FIVE YEARS TO WAIT "It is then that officials go
would be advisable if their children went to a training home.
The Duke of Windsor is specifically GAVE UP £15,000 rents, often poor, and suggest
barred by a clause in the bill defining disqualification: "If the person is not a British subject of full oge and resident in the United Kingdom, or would, under the Act of Settlement,
be incapable of inheriting, possessing
and enjoying the Crown."
Says "No" To London
Pastor of a lttle church in the The Act of Settlement, drawn up toughest quarter of Aberavon's dock- after Edward VIII., abdiented, pro-land, Dr. Martin Lloyd Jones a for- vided that he could marry without mur colleague of Lord Horder has
of a person certified as insane," Mr. escape Baker declared. "If they they can always be taken back with- out a warrant. The rule of 14 days' liberty does not apply.
de-
"We demand a better-defined stan- pa-dard for judging children of 12 and
it 13 or younger as mentally
ficient; just because they cannot read and write properly it does not mean they are unfit for manual or domes- tle work.
"Once a mother signs this form she may never see her child again for years, and only. when she tries to get him back home find that he is in a mertal home."
Independent medical examinations
"Quicker medical examination of the detained is necessary, with as- surance that evidence of Independent doctors would secure immediate re- can be made and occasional special cruelty, an independent committee lease; and finally, to prevent possible the King's consent, and that neither refused an offer to become minister paroles granted, but for the most he, his wife, or his children are in of the prosperous fashionable part no decision is taken as to pnasi- should be set up with power to visit line of accession to the throne.
Marylebone English Presbyterian ble discharge from such training The Regency Bill, which presumes Church, London,
schools until after five years.
NO RELEASE
and
Eleven years ago Dr. Jones, a bril-
that the next sovereign will be a mole, but is equally applicable to Elizabeth, provides that "his" mother liant heart specialist, sacrificed fame, fortune, and West End social life to :shall have guardianship of the sovereign's person until he is 18;
terlan Church.
The report cites many cases: "A woman of 37 has been detain-
Answer the call of the Welsh Presby-ed for 11 years under the Mental De- and that the regent will administer From the church at Aberavon, Dr.nelency Acts. Although unable to
'the sovereign's proprety and also
have the guardianship, of "hi" Jones and his wife set in motion a revivalist movement that is sweeping Wales.
person.
patients in private."
DOCTOR TO PAY £600. FOR NEGLIGENCE
For negligence in leaving a swab in Thomas Mahon, a 25-year-old | read or write, she is accomplished in labourer, after an operation in Davy- other ways, and can sew and crochet hulme Park Hospital, Judgment was with marked intelligenee."
given at Manchester Assizes recently The Bill differs from the act passed on the accession of King Georga. V. They have laboured to improve the Another: "A young woman of 23, against Dr. Rowland Percy Osborne This provided for the wife of the lot of working men and women in who has been under detention for for 2016 35. Od. with costs. King Queen Mary) to be regent. their little postarate,
nine years, was examined indepen-
The jury added a rider that they Before taking office, the Bill lays To-day men in silk hats mingle dently through the socioty's medical down that the regent must take with men wearing cloth caps in the service, and the doctor was of opinion were unanimously of the opinion that three oaths before the Privy Council: crowds entering every church where that there is no just ground for re- Dr. Osborne worked under difficult "Allegiance to the Sovereign and to Dr. Jones preaches,
garding her as a mental defective. circumstances during the operation.
his heirs and successors; that he will
truly and faithfully execute the office of regent and will consult und maintain the safety, honour and dignity of the Sovereign and the welfare of his people; and maintain the settlement of the Protestant re- ligion in Scotland."
**THIS 15 WHAT WOULD HAPPEN
"Bang Went Saxpence'
By Instalments
Here is what would happen in the BELLS for the 80ft, tower of the Peace Pavillon at the Empire firat few days of Elizabeth's, reign, Exhibition, Glasgow, were cast at Croydon Bell Foundry assuring that King George was to recently, and the tradition of throwing silver coins into the die within the next six years or molten metal "for luck" was observed by onlookers.
before she reaches the age of 18.
the summoning of the Privy Council
The Arst official action would be
to St. James's Palaco, London, most
ore Ju all about 300 Privy Councillors,
probably the following day. There of
Lord Cecil and Sir Herbert Dunnico tossed in sixpences. Sir Archibald Sinclair, M.P., and Mrs. E. M. Currie, convener the Peace Pavilion Committee, parted with threepenny-bits.
It was, of course, inevitable that there should be a joke about.
and at the time of George VI's England's contribution being twice that of Scotland. accession over a 100 attended
Sir Archibald Sinclair, chuckling, said his contribution had Princess Elizabeth would not be present, being a minor. Neither been brought specially from Scotland for the coremony. :
Dr. Osborne said he thought there might have been aïmiscount, or that two swabs had been given 'at once.
Nurse Ethel Monica Ashburnior, also sued, said she counted the swabs be Lore and after the operation and found them correct.
Professor John Morley told the Court that reliance was placed on the
count of swabs to avoid unnecessary searching.
If a search were extensive and pro- longed it might make the difference between Hie and death.
Judgment against the nurse was set naldo. Stay of execution was granted in the case of Dr. Osborne.
The man's mother Mrs. Elizabeth Mahen, of Hancock Street, Stretford, had brought the sction. Her son is
dend.
DEATH FOR SPIES IN FRANCE
Parls.
Espionage has increased to such an exient in France that capital punishment may shortly be reintroduced
The Daladler Government bins been studying the question closely, and it is understood that a decree is in course of preparation which would increase substantially the .for various forms of Some would entail the
sentences espionage. denth penalty.
It is recognised that in Germany, where, both men and women sples are beheaded, espionage has been practically, stamped out. It is felt. that, in the interests of national de-
fence, more rigorous melheds should be adopted to protect France from the agents of foreign Powers.
Since 1935 all spy cases have been
by Judged
military tribunals, where the maximum penalty is 20 years' imprisonment.
In 1932. seven cases of esplan ace were judged in France, in- volving the conviction Individuals.
19
of Two years later the number had risen to 70. Of the 85 people convicted 78 were foreigners
Figures are not available for more recent years, but there is no doubt that the total is very much inrger.
SAFETY FIRST!
Danger of TYPHOID and CHOLERA banished through
'TYPHORAL' 'CHOLPEROS'
A [BAYER]
MAMPEI HOTEL
KARUIZAWA
One catimate gives a tenfold in-Karuizawa, a small scat-
crease.
The military court at Besancon, in tered town, is situated East France, condemned three men 3,080 feet above the sea
to prison for espionage.
15
Georges Knochel was sentenced to
about French troops stationed in the region and about the sceret code. Walter Knapp received
A
years' imprisonment for trying to and has been known for obtain information from an Alsatian many years as the sum- staff mer resort where more similar sentence and Pierre Auer 18 foreigners go than any other place in Japan. It was discovered in 1886. Situated only three and a half hours from Tokyo, a joint search for a blackbird which by train, it offers ideal
years.
Blackbird Irks Police
Sierra Madre, Cal.
Police G, G. McMillan have started
is perking all the paint off their new, shining cars, When the two men summer temperatures,
are around the blackbird is ΠΟΙ
there, but when they are not, the never exceeding 80 de-
blackbird in.
grees.
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