EVENTFUL DAY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 June 1939, Page 5

EVENTFUL DAY

FOLLOWS ON FAREWELL TO WASHINGTON ENORMOUS CROWDS GATHER IN NEW YORK. VISIT TO WORLD'S FAIR. NEW YORK, June 10. Their Majesties ended their historic Washington visit last night and entrained for New 1 ork, where a tumultuous welcome awaited them from the Western Hemispnere’s largest city. Before entraining shortly before midnight, their Majesties had performed the last official act of the capital visit by playing host to President and Mrs Roosevelt at a dinner at the British Embassy. The guests numbered just 3G. In many ways it was a counterpart of Thursday’s State dinner at the White House, but it was even more formal and long toasts were omitted, since there seemed no point in "repeating phrases already uttered. So it was simply “To the President” and "To the King.” The table was of walnut, set with Government silver running back to the days of George IV. AL one end was a tall screen telling the brave tale of Brake and the Spanish Armada. Some of the plates were of silver and others were of fine china.

The Queen wore a Victorian frock of deep rose tulle with a diamond tiara in her hair and two diamond necklaces about her neck, which still showed traces of sunburn from the long ride during yesterday's procession. A dainty diamond strand was strapped about her wrist. . No formal farewell at the station had been planned, but at the last minute it was decided that such a leave-taking was tinctured with abruptness, so the Secretary of State, Mr Cordell Hull, was on hand to say farewell on behalf of the capital. Their Majesties left at 11.45 p.m. MILLION SCHOOL CHILDREN New York had completed arrangements fwr the welcome, even outdoing the party that London put on for the Coronation, at least in point of numbers. Features of the busy day included the presence of a million school children along the drives in Central Park, a 51 -mile drive through the city, gun salutes, the din of boat whistles, and the singing of “God Save the King.” The major part of the time was spent at the World's Fair, where their

Majesties visited the Irish, Canadian, Rhodesian, Australian, New Zealand, ■and British pavilions, and had lunch at the Federal building. Admission to the pavilions was by invitation only. Invitation had been keenly sought, since this was virtually the only chance of a close-up view of their Majesties. Enormous crowds, estimated at 3,000,000, greeted their Majesties on their arrival at New York. The Royal couple seemed somewhat weary from the heat, which was most oppressive even for natives, but they were smiling and apparently eager to see the city. The destroyer Warrington, on which they travelled from Redbank, New Jersey, arrived at the Battery at 11.5 a.m. Anxious to see the New York skyline. their Majesties remained on deck below the bridge, where cushion wicker chairs were placed. A blimp and an escorting squadron of bombers circled overhead. Two ferries laden with Britons singing “God Save the King,” and a multitude of small craft supplemented the official escort of coastguard vessels. SALUTE BY HARBOUR FORT. There was a heavy heat haze over the harbour, and no sign of the shoreline when the Statue of Liberty suddenly loomed ,up. Then the skyline of lower Manhattan vaguely began to take a firm impression as the destroyer approached the Battery. It was almost as if a pair of binoculars were gradually being focussed. The guns at Fort Jay fired a salute as the destroyer was sighted. Their Majesties disembarked shortly before noon and walked along a red velvet carpet, 269 ft long, laid the length of the pier. The Mayor, Mr La Guardia, and the State Governor, Mr Lehman, officially welcomed their Majesties, after the police band had played “God Save the King” and the “Star Spangled Banner.” The British Ambassador, Sir Ronald Lindsay, then joined the party. Ticker tape and scraps of confetti began to float from the windows adjoining the buildings as their Majesties entered an open bullet-proof glassed car. Two cars containing high police officials led the procession. Everywhere along the route thousands jammed the sidewalks. rooftops and windows at every available vantage point. The temperature then was 84 degrees and was still rising. The greatest mobilisation of city police in New York’s history, totalling 13.382, lined the streets. They were ordered to face the crowds. FRIENDLY PRESS COMMENT. The New York Press expressed it-

self with exceptional warmth on the subject of their Majesties. Even the Hearst “Daily Mirror” strikes an extraordinary note of friendliness, despite its usual notorious anti-British viewpoint. "He came, saw and conquered is the short short story of the visit of George and his charming Queen to the United States, one-time colony of the British Empire,” says the paper. “Historians may ponder and perhaps comprehend this astounding fact: There isn’t a man in America who can unleash an explosion of popular acclaim that could match the burst of throat-stretching cheers that are greeting their Britannic Majesties.”

The "New York Times” in a more dignified way neads its leader. “The Keys of the City," and comments on the departure of the last representative of the British Crown, Sir Guy Carleton, who left New York 156 years ago. “We were obliged to ask Sir Guy to give up the keys of the city,” the “Times” says. “In a different and happier sense we give them back to George and Elizabeth . . They have had a task before them from which any mortal might shrink. Neither was trained to it from birth. Indeed, there was no training and no protocal which could guide the conduct of a British King and Queen on American soil, nor which could hide insincerity if that quality had been in their natures. Happily it was not.” The New York “Herald-Tribune’s” leader, entitled .“History in the Making,” says: "With every reserve of judgment, who can miss the fact that these two very human Sovereigns, George and Elizabeth, are writing history and nothing else in their hasty but exceedingly warm and friendly dash to Washington, New York, Hyde Park, and back to Canada . . Today this city has its chance to share in the nation’s greeting. By every sign the welcomers will surpass in numbers and enthusiasm any similar gathering, not to form new bonds but to renew old ones, as old as the English tongue and English freedom. New York will stand up and cheer these very human envoys from an ancient and friendly people.”