48 THE BRITISH APPROACH TO POLITICS

granted by Parliament at the beginning of each reign. Out of this
"Civil List" totalling about £400,000, provision is made for the
King's private expenses and those of maintaining his Court, and
for some members of the Royal Family; Civil List pensions are
also granted to people considered to be deserving and in need.
Like anyone else, he may save out of his income, and the savings
of previous Sovereigns have accumulated a considerable purely
private fortune. When this income, and the unavoidable expenses
of Kingship are considered, it appears that the King is certainly
very wealthy, though probably not as wealthy as some of his
subjects.

IMPERIAL FUNCTIONS.

The King fits into the Constitutions of the self-governing

Dominions very much as into the Constitution of this country.

His work has to be carried out, however, by Governors-General

who have not the same personal prestige. Every citizen of the

Commonwealth or Empire is the King's subject. This is important

because it means they enjoy a common citizenship. An

Australian or a native of Kenya entering this country is not an

alien. One of the chief arguments advanced in favour of monarchy

is that it serves as a link of Empire. The Dominions guard their

independence jealously; they are not prepared to admit the

supremacy of the Parliament that sits at Westminster, but are

prepared to recognise the King as the common Head of their

Parliaments and ours. These are other bonds of Empire, probably

stronger than this—the tie of blood, the trading and investment

relationships, the conviction that in the event of foreign attack

the Dominions would act together. If these vanished, it is

doubtful whether the monarchy alone could unite the Empire.,

-The King does not so much create Imperial unity as symbolise

it Men have a strong inclination to personify the ideas in which

they believe. In the Kingship they see the idea of Commonwealth

and Imperial unity personified.