§ Mr. ATTLEE(by Private Notice) asked the Prime Minister whether he has anything to add to the statement which he made on Friday?
§ The PRIME MINISTERYes, Sir. I am glad to have the occasion of making a further statement on the position.
In considering this whole matter it has always been, and remains, the earnest desire of the Government to afford to His Majesty the fullest opportunity of weighing a decision which involves so directly his own future happiness and the interests of all his subjects.
At the same time they cannot but be aware that any considerable prolongation of the present state of suspense and uncertainty would involve risk of the gravest injury to National and Imperial interests and indeed no one is more insistent upon this aspect of the situation than His Majesty.
In view of certain statements which have been made about the relations between the Government and the King, I should add that, with the exception of the question of morganatic marriage, no advice has been tendered by the Government to His Majesty with whom all my conversations have been strictly personal and informal. These matters were not raised first by the Government but by His Majesty himself in conversation with me some weeks ago when he first informed me of his intention to marry Mrs. Simpson whenever she should be free. The subject has, therefore, been for some time in the King's mind and as soon as His Majesty has arrived at a conclusion as to the course he desires to take he will no doubt communicate it to his Governments in this country and the Dominions. It will then be for those Governments to decide what advice, if any, they would feel it their duty to tender to him in the light of his conclusion.
I cannot conclude this statement without expressing—what the whole House feels—our deep and respectful sympathy with His Majesty at this time.
§ Mr. ATTLEEEveryone will agree with the sympathy expressed by the Prime Minister in the last words of his statement. I am assuming from his statement that His Majesty has not yet come to a conclusion on the advice of the Ministry on the subject of the morganatic marriage proposal. If this is so, it is difficult to press the right hon. Gentleman for further information at the present time, but I would like to ask him to bear in mind, 1643 as I am sure he does, that the House and the country are deeply anxious to receive the fullest information as soon as possible, as without that it is quite impossible to have any proper discussion on these issues that may be raised.
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am obliged to the right hon. Gentleman for the point that he has put. I was not aware that he was going to put it, and I am grateful to him, because I agree with every word of it, and I shall be only too glad at a suitable moment to give the House the whole of the information which I am able to give, and while I am always willing to answer, as I think the House knows, supplementary questions, I do think the whole House will agree with me that at this moment, with a situation that is so grave and anxious, and while the King is considering this matter and has not yet made up his mind, I should feel great difficulty in offering information in answer to supplementary questions, especially considering that the answers I should have to give would have to be improvised.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLMay I ask my right hon. Friend whether he could give us an assurance that no irrevocable step—[Hoist. MEMBERS: "No."]—that no irrevocable step will be taken before the House has received a full statement, not only upon the personal but upon the constitutional issues involved? May I ask him to bear in mind that these issues are not merely personal to the present occupant of the Throne, but that they affect the entire Constitution? [HoN. MEMBERS: "Speech," and "Sit down."] If the House resists my claim it will only add the more importance to any words that I might want to use. May I say that the right hon. Gentleman has spoken of rumours? If he were able to give an assurance that the House would have the constitutional issue laid before it, then this anxiety would not persist.
§ Mr. SPEAKERWill the right hon. Gentleman confine what he has to say to a simple question?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI am grateful for what the right hon. Gentleman has said, but I ask that there should be an assurance that no irrevocable decision will be taken until at least a statement has 1644 been made to Parliament of the constitutional issues involved, and of the procedure involved in such an event—[HON. MEMBERS: Order."]
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe right hon. Gentleman insists on going beyond a simple question.
§ Mr. LAMBERTMay I ask whether the Prime Minister is aware that there is in this House a deep personal sympathy with him?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIn answer to my right hon. Friend's question, I must inform him that it is at the moment impossible for me to give a reply. I do not know yet, and cannot know yet, what the King may decide, or how he may decide to act. It is quite impossible for me to enter into hypothetical considerations.
§ Mr. GALLACHERIs it not the case that this crisis expresses a deeper crisis in the economic system—[HoN. MEMBERS: "Order."]
§ Mr. SPEAKERI have not allowed debating questions on this matter in one direction, and I am not going to allow them in another.
§ Mr. THURTLEAs the point at issue between Parliament and the King is the question of the morganatic marriage, may I ask whether the opinion of the House will be ascertained upon that particular point?
§ Mr. BELLENGERMay I ask whether, in view of the serious dislocation which is being caused to industry and trade in this country, the Prime Minister will endeavour to obtain an early reply from His Majesty?