Union. The Transcaucasian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic is dissolved, and Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia become full Republics of the Soviet Union. December 7 – Streptococcous meningitis (a condition previously 99% fatal) is successfully treated for the first time with a sulfonamide. December 10 – Edward VIII abdication crisis: King Edward VIII of the United Kingdom signs an instrument of abdication at Fort Belvedere, Surrey in the presence of his three brothers, The Duke of York, The Duke of Gloucester and The Duke of Kent. December 11 Edward VIII abdication crisis: The British Parliament passes His Majesty's Declaration of Abdication Act 1936 on behalf of the U.K., Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The King performs his last act as sovereign by giving Royal Assent to the Act, and his brother Prince Albert, Duke of York, becomes King, reigning as King George VI. The abdicated King, now HRH Prince Edward, makes a broadcast to the nation explaining his decision to abdicate, and leaves the country for Austria. Taking the opportunity to free itself further from ties to the United Kingdom, the Oireachtas of the Irish Free State passes the Constitution (Amendment No. 27) Act 1936, removing most powers from the office of Governor-General of the Irish Free State, and the Executive Authority (External Relations) Act 1936 (signed into law December 12), assenting to the abdication and restricting the power of the monarch in relation to Ireland to international affairs. December 12 – Xi'an Incident: Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek of the Republic of China is kidnapped by Marshal Zhang Xueliang. December 24 – The first filmed Russian opera, Natalka Poltavka, is released in Ukraine. December 28 – The Flint sit-down strike begins, a six-week standoff that would result in the recognition of the United Auto Workers by General Motors. Date unknown West China Famine: An estimated five million people die. Nestlé introduce the white chocolate Milkybar (called Galak in Continental Europe and elsewhere). Births January January 2 – Roger Miller, American singer, songwriter, musician and actor (d. 1992) January 6 Darlene Hard, American tennis player (d. 2021) Alejandro Maldonado, Guatemalan politician Julio María Sanguinetti, 2-time President of Uruguay January 8 – Robert May, Australian scientist (d. 2020) January 10 Stephen E. Ambrose, American historian and biographer (d. 2002) Robert Wilson, American physicist, radio astronomer, and Nobel laureate January 11 – Eva Hesse, American artist (d. 1970) January 12 – Émile Lahoud, 15th President