§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Asquith)I beg to move, "That a humble Address be presented to His Majesty to express the deep concern and sorrow of this House at the great loss which His Majesty has sustained by the death of His Majesty the King of Denmark, and to condole with His Majesty on this melancholy occasion and to pray His Majesty that He will be graciously pleased to express to His Majesty the present King the profound sympathy of this House with the Royal Family and with the Government and People of Denmark:
To assure His Majesty that this House will ever feel the warmest interest in whatever concerns His Majesty's domestic relations, and to declare the ardent wishes of this House for the happiness of His Majesty and of His Family."
The world was yesterday shocked by the news of the sudden death, in moving circumstances, of King Frederick VIII., of Denmark. There is no country, I think I may say, outside his own Dominions, where 1293 that sad event has excited more sorrow and sympathy than the United Kingdom. Our friendship with the Danish people, who are our own kindred, is firmly founded and has now lasted for many generations. The late King came to the Throne at a mature age, well-equipped with both military and civil experience, and we may venture respectfully here to pay this tribute to his memory, that throughout his reign he showed himself a model of a constitutional sovereign. He was, further, the head, and a conspicuous figure in Europe as the head, of an illustrious family, which in our time has occupied or shared the Thrones of Great Britain, and Russia, Greece, and of Norway. Our own regret in this country at his sudden removal is naturally tinged with a sense of domestic and even of personal loss. We cannot forget that King Frederick was the eldest brother of our Queen Alexandra, who holds an undiminished sway over the affections of the British people, the uncle of our reigning King, and the father-in-law of the King's sister. The domestic joys and sorrows of our Royal house are shared, and intimately shared, by all the King's subjects. I can confidently ask this House in the Address which I now move to make itself the exponent of the feeling of the nation.
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI rise to second the Resolution which has just been moved by the Prime Minister, who has given expression in words so simple yet so full of sympathy to the feelings of every Member of this House. I gladly associate myself with him in what he has said, and I hesitate to add anything to it. I shall therefore say this only, that our hearts go out in special sympathy to the widowed mother of our Sovereign, who, from the day she came to England as the bride of King Edward, chose his people to be her people, and who now in her hour of sorrow and loneliness is called upon to bear this new and heavy burden.
§ Question put, and agreed to, nemine contradicente.
§ Address to be presented by Privy Councillors and Members of His Majesty's Household.
§ Resolved, nemine contradicente, That this House do condole with Her Majesty Queen Alexandra on the great loss which she has sustained by the death of His Majesty the King of Denmark.
1294§ Ordered, That a Message of Condolence be sent to Her Majesty Queen Alexandra, and that Mr. Burt, Mr. Laurence Hardy, Mr. Eugene Wason, and Sir John Lonsdale do attend Her Majesty with the said Message.—[The Prime Minister.]