1961-01-21 — Page 14

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SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, 1961.

Concluding the story of Lord Curzon's life...

THE MOST SUPERIOR PERSON by LEONARD

MOSLEY

The great mistake -and Curzon's

last hope vanishes

over.

FIANCE TOLD: YOU DON'T EXIST

THE

Barcalone.

of marriago Salesman

childhood

the

and his sweetheart was all arranged. Than, sudden- ly, five days before tho wodding, the bridegroom discovered the awful truth. According to official TO- corda he does not exist,

Officially he has no name; lle thought he was called Francisco Pons Riera,

The parish priest took him to the local graveyard. There on n tombstone wha the name "Francisco Pony Riera"-and the date of death. 1942.

Tenrs of gratification welled in after all, be his and he decided He was operated upon on Curzon's eyes. To Grace he said: to fight, at last.

March 10, 1923, For eight days The summons, it has come."

afterwards he seemed to be re-

The priest pointed out that he Stamfordham was in an ult covering, and then complleations could not offeiate at the wed The long years of waiting were

comfortable position. He knew set in. On March 18 his doctor, ding of a man who was dead, (though Curzon did not) tha, Sir Thorans (later Lord) Horder us they talked, Stanley Baldwin drew Gence aside and said: "Hold that the morringe of "Mr was on his way to the Palzes. Is right that he should know. He textile salesman, aged 29, or Josefina Daranas, aged 23. He must have been hard put to is dying. He is very eat would be impossible until Me

at his watch. man, and it would be wrong to could and himself a name. it not to glance For he had not been as frank #9 deceive him any longer." he might have been.

which IN a letter

George Nathaniel Curzon once wrote to his brother-in-law, he said: "Someone once told It was not until the following afternoon, when he was in his me that the world is study at 1, Carlton House-ter- composed of (1) Fools, race In London, that the warm

Ing bell rang in his cars at last. (2) Damned Fools, and And then it was still only a faint (3) Bloody Fools, The tinkle. least one can do is try to stick to the first class."

Over the crisis weekend of Whitsuntide, 1923, Cur zon seems to have placed himself definitely in Cute- gary 3.

Tho resignation of Bonar Law as Prime Minister was imminent. Curzon was con- vinced that he was the only logical choice for the suc-

cessor-...

"Upon my arrival," he wrote, "I received a message fron! Lord Stamfordhme that he would call at 3.30 pm. 1 scented danger

HOPELESS

Curzon thought that.

there

did

in the delay but my wife in her was stili thine for him to go sweet enthusiasm could not ad- on fightingg the hopeles mit that if the King chose to pace battle; and Stamfordham me over, he would merely gend not disabuse him. his secretary to apologise."

UNEASY

Of what happened next per- hapa only Curzon's Own account can convey the true quality. Promptly at 2.30 um the King's Private Secre- lary Was shown in. Curzon noticed at once that Stamford-

When she went back into the bedroom. Curzon immediately roused himself and asked: "What do they say? Am I going to recover?" Grace told him the

bad news.

to It would be appropriate record that he then gave vent to his favourite Curzonian phrase "And now comes the point of distante: "How ghastly, how which causes me the oltterest solutely ghastly. But though feeling," Curzon wrote later, he could not quite bring himself he did receive the to that, visit to mo "Stamfordham's

dolorous news with the calm for- had been delayed to an hour titude and inck of distress which avhen all protest or appeal

had so often cluded him in from me was tulle, For n: that hour 3.15 pm-Baldwin moments of lesser crisis. He did was already at the Palace, not even burst into tears. receiving his mission at the He repeated the Lord's Prayer, bauds of the King. In other And then he, who had been all words, the decision had been his life such a despairing insom- taken and acted upon without niac, suddenly discovered the any chance being given to me knack of it-ind went off into a ....at even expressing an deep and peaceful sleep. "Lord Stamfordham bezan

opinion," obvious by explaining, with embarrassment, and in falter- ing language, the great dim- culty in which the King had been placed....He had failed to receive, though 0 had from sought it, any advice Bonar Law as to his suCCESSOT. In these circumstances the consult such King had to opinion as he could."

But he had insisted, as he always did throughout his life, in taking his "English was unhappy and uncusy, weekend." He went with his wife Grace to their house at Montacute, in Somerset,

11

lic wrote:

It was there, on Whit Monday morning, that letter came from Bonar Law to inform him: "I am sorry to say that I find it neces- sary to resign... 1 under- stand that it is not custom- ary for the King to ask the

These so-called "opinions" Prime Minister to recom- included come of Curzon's eldest mend his successor in cir- enemies, and they had done cumstances like the present their worst. Balfour as one of and I presume that he will them. not do so; but if, as I hope. he accepts my resignation at once, he will have to take immediate steps about my successor.

Here, surely, was n warn- ing for Curzon that the roud to the premiership was not going to be quite so smooth as he imagined. But why did not the warn- ing bells ring in his ears when he got the letter? And why did he not immediately catch the first train to Lon- don and find out what was going on?

ROUSED

Instead, be stayed on at Montecule and walled. *Not being on the telephone," he wrote, "I could not communi- rate with anyone in London, and I naturally refrained from hurrying back, lost my action should be misinterpreted."

He added:

"Such

the reward received for nearly 40 years of public service in the highest offees. Such was the manner in which it was intimated to me that the cup of honourable

had been dashed ambilion from my lips, and that I could never espire to fill the highest office in the service of the Crown,"

Curzon may be excused in these circumstances, the tears he shed, One sympathises with Next, Lord Stamfordham him when he says: "It is not went on to explain that the for mic to explain or find King fully recognised my pre- reasons for the King's action. cminent claims--immeasurably Doubtless, be acted for the superior, as he expressed it to best. But I think he neled with those of any other candidate. Insufcient consideration for an These claims were, he mid old public servant." such as to entitle me to expect the succession, for which the King regarded me as in every. way qualified.

"Nevertheless--and now the

IN PAIN

But, of course, the King was

blow fell-the King had con- not lo blame. A new Premier vinced himself that, inasmucia

as the largest section of the had been elected not because he wanted him, but because other Opposition to the present

One lo Government was a Labour forces had insisted,

driven to the conclusion that Government, and as that Party those who advised the Crown was not represented in the House of Lords, the future this cecasion were motivated the the Government less by a desire to hand

reins of Government on to a must be in the House of Com-worthy successor to Bonar Law mons, where he could answer Than to prevent the proud, the Labour Leader with full

Curzon authority, Accordingly,

the pompous, infuriating King had elected to pass me from gelling them. over and appoint Stanley Bald- evin instead.”

Leader of

A SHOCK

Did patriolis move them?

The trouble with Mr X is that he is an orphan of the Spanish And there was a Civil War. mix-up over his name.

Until he was saven he was looked after by muns in a con- vent. Then he was taken to a hospital in Gerona, where ha was known simply as "Paquito," The name Paquito was not enough. So on his ninth birth- day he was called before the hospital director and told: "We will give you a new name,"

A Secretary pleked up a copy of a birth cerünente, and gave it to Prquito. It bure the namo of Francisco Pona Riera, an- other boy in the hospital.

No one realised the mistake- not even when the real Fran- cisco died in 1042.

It was only when Mr X applied for a marriage licence in Geronu that the parish priest discovered the discrepancy,

But Mr X still hopes to go A heal with the wedding. It was in his sleep that, on March 20, 1025, George Nathaniel special court, which sits Barcelona, is to be asked -Curzon died.

give him a name. Londen Express Service).

Know Your Dog

By HM. HOWELL

In to

X7ITH the Police Dog Trials before us on January 31 Why be it while to confider for a moment o a guard dog the

Did high motives beat in their dog that is increasingly being used as breasts as they counselled the world over and is being bred locally by the Hongkong. King? Or was it spite and petty Police Force. malevolence?

back his warning with defence The breed was omcially re- The conspirators got, instead cognised in 1900. Since that of his master and his master's The news was such ☐ of Curzon as Premier, Stanley | date the Doberman Pinscher has foods. Yel, he is affectionate, shock

10 Curzon that, Baldwin, the Prime Minister made fast frienda in Europe, in obedient, and loyal. How else could his return have at first, he refused to they preferred. And that might the Orient, and the Americas. Traditionally compounded of been interpreted than in the believe it. This simply could have been possible to bear had it It takes its name from Louis the old short-haired shepherd- narious way that he was an not be. He looked at Grace, who not been for the fact that the Dobermann of Thueringen, Ger- dog stock, with admixtures of

in the room during the people who played no part in many. elder statesman of the admini was stration, vitally interested in the interview, and tears come into this squalla comedy go! negotiations which were in pro- his eyes. He wiped them away Stanley Baldwin, too.... gress? Why did he not go back while the embarrassed Stamford- and fight for what he rightfully ham turned his head. belleved should be his? It was

the profoundest 'mistake of his life.

Rottweiler, Black and Tan Terrier, and mooth-haired Ger- Of medium size and clean-cut man Pinscher. the Doberman has appearance, the dog at first been fortunate, with the aid of George Nathaniel Curzon had flance does not give evidence of selective breeding, to have ab- grown so used to sickness — for its great muscular power, The erbed the good qualities of the "I earnestly protent against he had been in almost constant | adult male, in the pink of condi- races which have contributed to the new doctrine," Curzon cald, pain for 48 years that he did tion weighs sixty-five to a heritage. It has been from

"It involves an additional and not recognise a physical crisis seventy-five pounds, So com the beginning a working dog Thai evening, the village post perpetual and cruel disability when ofte struck him. It came pect is its structure, so dense the devoted to the service of man- office at Montacute was roused upon the order of the House to one night in 1925,

laying on of muscle under the kind. to take an important telegram which I belong."

short cost, and so elegant and

At first, the Doberman W03 frum London. The village police- Stamfordham could only say "That night," wrote Grace well chiselled the outline that used almost exclusively ús a man was called to take it imme- that circumstances might alter. Curzon, "I was diping with the novice would probably guard and home watchdog. diately to Montacute House, It He was, by this time, looking at Cecil and Alice Bingham, wha | underestimate the weight by developed, its qualities of was signed by Lord Stamford- the door. But Curzon was deter-

big dinner party from Riteen to twenty pounds. Weight intelligence and ability to absorb bain, the King's Private Secre- inned that he should not go yet. which we were all to go on to is the only particular, however, and rotain training trought it

a ball/given by Lord Brassey.in which the Doberman is de- tary, and summoned Curzon He had only just begun to realise

inito demand ta police and war Towards the end of the dirmer ceplive. Its qualities of alert- dog. urgently to London.

that the Premiership might not,

CHESS

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In this service ita agility I was called to the telephone to ness, agility, muscular and tem and courage made it highly answer an inquiry from the peramental fire stand patent for

An excellent nose

Press--- I was used if George any ere to see. It is an hosest prized. the dog to criminal were ill, as there was a rumour deg, uncamouflaged by super adapted

that his speech at Cambridge Auous coat or the wiles of the trailing; it has also led to its use would not be given."

NO TEARS

Grace setorted that ho had {been perfectly well that after-

noon.

artful conditioner. One gaine as a hunting dog.

Among the endearing qualites at once the impression of alnewy nimbleness, of the quick co- of the Doberman has come to be ordination of the well-trained its devotion to hearth and home, athlete.

and its discriminating service as friend and guardian of the whole There is also an air of nobility family. The properly bred and about the Doberman Pinscher trained specimen has a sane find which is part of its birthright, and a mound body; the heart and More than most other breed, it spirit of a gentleman. The ac. gives the impression of a, blue, cent on this last sentence re- an aristocrat, minda ene there is a detrimental blooded animal, From the strong muzzle and characteristic cold 10

bo

"I felt very ameasy after this inquiry, but I did not telephone to Cambridge because I was suro that if George needed me I should have received a mes-wedge-shaped head to the clearly possessed by this breed and that enge from him, and 1 knew defined stifle, the outline is de- in the possibility of it becom- that if nothing was wrong hentte and sharply etched. The ing unreliable in later years even and insimitivo ex. to. the extant, let it be whisper- would have didliked receiving fearlem

pression of the dark eye is in od. of turning on ils · master, fussy telephone call."

harmony with the bodily something of which all other But George, not for the first characteristics. The Doberman breeds would look oskaber,

On the Continent and in ume, did need her. He had had looks upon the stranger befdly

haemorrhage while drossing, and judges him with unerrings U.S.A. the cars are cropped but and had lost a great emount of instinct. Ito is ready, it need in the United Kingdon, this blood.

10, to give prompt alarm and to practice is not allowed.