King Edward announced his abdication In a message read to the House of Commons this afternoon. He is Suegeeded by his brother, the Duke of York, who becomes the rst King Albert of this country.
So. ended. the constitutional _erisis which ast week plunged the British Empire into doubt and suspense. King Edward is now free to marry Mrs, Ernest Simpson, of America, for whose sake he has renounced' the Throne, The reign of the outgoing King was the shortest since thater Queen Jane, fraud-daughter of Mary, younger Sister of King Henry VIE who was chended in 1554 and who reigned for fourteen slays. "He came to the throne on the death of his father, King George V, on January 20 last.
The King's snessage was read by the Speaker, Mr. E. A, Fitzroy, in an Almosphere of the utmost tension. The scene inthe House was Hluminated by the mellow light of electric Inmps, which had been turned fon because the fog onside blanketed the daylight "My Mind is Made Up"
Witnessed by King Edward's three brothers—the new King, the Duke of Gloucester, and the Duke of Kent—the message said His Majesty appre-lated the appeals which had been made to him, but "my mind is made Never has the House been so fult as it was to-day. All the: benches were packed when the session was opened, with the exception of the places of Mr, Baldwin, Mr, ER. Altice, leader of the Labour Opposlon, and Sir Archibald Sinclair, the Liberal leader, who all arrived later, The Peers, Diplomatic, and Dominion galleries were likewise ful, and many persons were unable to obtain admission.
Fifly questions were asked and quielely answered, most of them me audible amid the excited hum of 3 tense audience. Members heard the questions listlessly and impatiently. restively awaiting "Mr. Baldwin's announcement. All were obviously conscious of the gravity of the most historic parliamentary occasion since outbreak of the Great War.
As the murky daylight of 9 fomiy December day faded, the tights the House were switched on throwing into greater relief the sombreness the scene, Nearly everyone. including women, wore black. which matched the sadness of their thoughts, conceive that I am not overlooking the duty that rests on me place in the forefront the public Interests when T'declare that I am conscious that I can no longer discharge this heavy task. with efficiency, or with satisfaction to myself.
"I have accordingly this morning executed an Instrument of Abdication in the terms following:—
"1, Edward VII, of Great Britain, Ireland, and' the British El a, Dominions beyond the Seas, Kin (Signed) Edward, R, 1°"
"My execution of this Instrument has "been witnessed by my three brothers, Their Royal Highnesses the Duke of York, the Duke of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent, Most Fully Ponderea "1 deeply appreciate the spirit which has actuated the appeal which has been made to me to take a diffe tent decision, and I have, before reach-Ing my final determination, most fully pondered over it, but my mind is fully made up. "Moreover, further delay cannot but be most injurious to the peoples whom I have tried 10 serve as Prince of Wales and as King, and whose future prosperity and hap: piness are the constant wish of my heart, "I take my leave of them in the confident hope that the cause which T thought i€ right to follow is. that which is best for the stability of the Throne and the Empire and the happiness of my peoples, I am deeply Sensible of the consideration which they have always extended to me, both before and after my accession to the Throne, and which T know they will extend in full measure to my, successor.
am most anxious that there should be no delay in giving effect tothe instrument' which I have executed, and that all the necessary steps should be taken immediately {o secure that my lawful successor, my brother, His Royal Highness the Duke of York, should ascend the Mr. Baldwin Cheerea Mr, Baldwin's Address Me, Baldwin arrived at 335 pam. and was greeted with a restrained, but wholoshearted cheer. 'The Prime Minister sat. forward uneasily in his chair, shuffling papers in his hands and "whispering. with Mr, Ramsay Macdonald, Lord President of the Council, and the Home Secretary, Sir John Simon, who sat on either side of him. Mr.' Baldwin was very. pale. He wore a short black coal, striped trousers, and a. black tie, Questions terminated at 320 pam. and, at 342 pan, Mr. Baldwin rose, slowly walked to the Bar of the House and announced that he had a message from King Edward, sizeed in hiis own hand. He then handed the message to the Speaker, who read it out in a grave voice.
Text of Abaleation The message was—
"After Jong and anxious _consideration, I. am determined Tenounce' the Throne to which 1 succeeded on the death of my father, and T am now communicating this my inal, irrevocable decision. Realizing as T do the gravity" of this step, T can only hope that 1 shall have the understanding of my peoples in the decision I have taken and the rea~ sons which have led me to take it.
will not enter now into my private feelings. but I would beg that it should be remembered that the burden which constantly rests upon the shoulders of a sovereign Is heavy that it can only be bourne circumstances different from those in which T now find myself.
After King Edward's message had been readin the Commons, Mr. Baldwin made a statement.
have to move," he said, "that His Majesty's most gracious message be now considered. No graver message has ever been received by Parliament, and no more dificult—1 may almost say repugnant—task has ever been Imposed "upon a Prime Minister (Cheers)
would ask the House, which I know will not be without sympathy for me in my position to-day—(renewed sympathetic cheers—to remember that in this last week T have had but litle time in which to compose a speech for delivery, so I must tell what I have to tell' truthfully, sincerely, and. plainly, with no. tempt to dress up or at adornment. I shall have little oF nothing to say in the way of comment, or any eritielsm, cor praise, or blame.
"I think my best course is to tel, so far as I can, what has passed between iis Majesty and myself and what has led up to the present situation, would like to say, at the start, that His Majesty, as Prince of Wales, honoured me for many years with friendship which 1 value. I know he would agree with me in saying to you hat it was not only a friendship between man and man, but friendship and affection. 1 would like to tell the House that, when we said good bye on Tuesday night at Fort Belvedere, we both felt, and said to each other, that our friendship had so far been unimpaired, and that our discussions in these last few weeks
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.