CONGRESS LEADERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 June 1939, Page 5

CONGRESS LEADERS

TRIBUTES PAID TO THEIR MAJESTIES. MEETING WITH NEW DEAL OFFICIALS. WASHINGTON, June 9. Senator Pittman, in a statement to the Press, said: “I have never seen such a spontaneous universal expression of friendship” as that demonstrated at the Congressional reception of their Majesties. Senator Clark said the reception was “a splendid personal tribute to their Majesties as very charming individuals.”

Senator Walsh expressed the opinion that their Majesties made “a very favourable impression on the American people.” Incidentally, the White House staff did everything possible to meet their Majesties’ taste in food and drink. Tea was served from water treated so that it had the exact chemical content of London water in the hope that the tea would taste like London tea. Whether their Majesties thought it did was not learnt.

Their Majesties met administrative officials of the New Deal at a small, quietly informal White House tea devoted to informing the visiting Sovereigns concerning the social and economic activities of the administration.- It was attended by Cabinet members and heads of Government agencies. Each was presented, and about a dozen sat for brief conversations, answering questions and volunteering information on what his or her particular agency was doing.

The tea was a restful interlude for their Majesties in a busy day. The guests included the Secretaries, Messrs Cordell Hull, H. A. Wallace, and Hopkins and Miss Frances Perkins. Earlier their Majesties had inspected a typical civilian conservation corps camp near Washington as part of their study of the New Deal. The Labour leader, Mr John L. Lewis, pointedly stayed away from the tea. Mr William Green attended being, incidentally, the only guest formally attired. It was recalled that several weeks ago Lady Lindsay said Mr Lewis and Mr Green had been invited to the Embassy garden party. Later she said she did not know whether they were or not. Both said they did not receive invitations and neither attended.

AT HYDE PARK ROYAL PARTY AT CHURCH. DAY OF BRILLIANT SUNSHINE. (Received This Day, 9.10 a.m.) HYDE PARK. (New Jersey), June 11. Their Majesties, accompanied by the President and Mrs Roosevelt, and members of the Royal Party, left Hyde Park House at 10.45 a.m. en route to the tiny St James Episcopal Church. Both the King and Queen looked refreshed after a good night’s sleep. They waved to the crowds lining the road. Hundreds of spectators were massed in Hyde Park village and there were hundreds more around the quaint brown stone, ivyclad church. A brilliant sun presaged the hottest day this year. The sky was cloudless, but a tempering breeze made the weather bearable. Dozens of girl students from the famous Vasar college were among the waving crowd. Many parishioners of the church, who were unable to enter owing to the lack of space, stood upon the lawn.