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"Primarily, however, the King's transcendent reason for marrying Mrs. Simp son is that he ardently loves her, and does not see why a King should be denied the privilege of marrying the lady he loves." Morgan & King. This by no means ended the struggle being waged to prevent the British public from becoming in formed. Reynolds Illustrated News of London meanwhile came out with a flat assertion that U. S. Secretary of State Cordell Hull will be asked to silence on the subject of Mrs. Simpson "a weekly periodical with a large and influential circulation." Reynolds continued: "At the same time efforts will be made to have pressure brought on the editor of the American journal from another quarter. . . . [John Pierpont] Morgan's close friends are the Duke and Duchess of York, who have several times been his guests. So Morgan will be asked to intervene."
At latest reports neither Statesman Hull nor Banker Morgan had attempted to influence any U. S. weekly periodical on Mrs. Simpson, but Reynolds had accurately reported what was in the minds of British bigwigs determined to prevent a marriage of the King and Mrs. Simpson. In this category last week were understood to be the Prime Minister and Mrs. Stanley Baldwin, the Duke of Portland, the Marquess of Salisbury, the Marquess of Londonderry and the Earl of Derby.
Proctor 6 King-Divorce is granted in England only by a decree nisi or "unless." This juridical joker means that a final decree will be issued in six months (or less at the discretion of the court) "unless" in the meanwhile evidence of a discrediting nature is discovered by the King's Proctor, Sir Thomas Barnes. To this official, a personal appointee of the Sovereign, spiteful persons annually send thousands of anonymous letters. Some of these the King's Proctor turns over to detectives. Some of their snooping turns up facts discreditable enough to impress the blase Proctor. When much impressed he drafts a report to the Attorney General and by a process often much like drawing a card at random from a pack, some of the King's Proctor's reports are acted on.
Thus Mrs. A., who has proved Mr. A. unfaithful and secured her decree nisi, may receive at any time within six months a fearsome summons accusing her of infidelity herself. Then, if she cannot disprove the evidence of the Crown, the judge cannot make her decree absolute and Mr. & Mrs. A. never thereafter can obtain a divorce in England.
This week Mr. Justice Hawke granted a decree nisi to Mrs. Simpson and she faced the usual trying interval.