AMAZING SCENE

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 453, 22 June 1937, Page 3

AMAZING SCENE

NEW CITY IN PARIS Gleaming White Buildings Paris, May 26. Golden sunshine crowned the magnificence of the opening of the- International Paris Exhibition of 1937 by President Lebrun. When he stepped through the gleaming metal gates of the “Portal of Honour,” with, the French Cabinet and entire diplomatic corps grouped around him, the President gazel

down on a remarkable scene, Before him iay a white city of new buildings in the heart of smoke-grey Paris. Under the staggling legs of the soaring Eiffel Tower on the opposite bank of the River Seine it extended a mile on either side of the Champ de Mars. Oriental Village.

Surmounted by an enormous eagle of glistening gold, the huge square tower of the German Pavilion rose on the left. On the right groups of statuary as tall as a five-storeyed building towered from.the roOf of the Pavilion of Russia. Across the. river to the left was the tall, -pale stone-building of Italy,, and close ito the Eiffel Tower a large Union Jack waved bravely from tn, British Pavilion, which, like a number of other buildings., will not be completed for two or three weeks.

The President's jarty boarded, ceremonial burges (and made a two-mile Isle of Swans, with its complete tour by w-ater. Slowly they passer by the mile-long Oriental village and buildings repre tentative .of every part or Frenlch colonial possessions. Near the Place de Id. Concorde rose ths strange towers of the Amusement Park, decorated in old-fashioned rustic style and crowned with the great trellis work of an enormous scenic railw-ay.

The actqal ceremony of inauguration then tqok place in. lhe Grand Palais.

While- many. of. ithe -most interesting buildings . are ready, the . British Pavilion will not be open until about the middle of June.