FRIENDLY CALL

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 114, 17 May 1927, Page 7

FRIENDLY CALL

ENTENTE CORDIALE.

French President's Visit to

Britain.

KING'S CORDIAL WELCOME. (British Official Wireless.) (Received 12 noon.) RUGBY, May 16. When M. Doumergue, French President, accompanied by M. Briand, French Foreign Minister, arrived at Dover to-day on a State visit, he was met by the Prince of Wales and Earl Haig.

L T pon leaving the steamer Invicta he issued the following message to the British nation:'—

"The President of the French Republic is very happy to visit His Majesty King eorge V. to bring to the British people sentiments of cordial friendship of the t French people and the two nations." Prime Minister, M. Briand. and Sir Austen Chamberlain, Foreign Secretary, represented the Government. Earl Beatty was among other notable persons on the platform. The King warmly greeted M. Doumergue and introduced him to distinguished personages. Accompanied by tlie King, M. Doumergue inspected the guard of honour of the Grenadier Guards and then the King and the President, the Prince of AVales and Prince Henry entered the Royal carriage. The British and French National Anthems were played during these proceedings. As the King and the President drove to Buckingham Palace, escorted by the Sovereign's escort of Royal Horse Guards, they were loudly cheered by large crowds.

The President later visited the Cenotaph in Whitehall and the grave of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey, and laid a magnificent wreath on each.

M. Gaston Doumergue lias been president of the French Republic since June, 1924. Born 63 years ago, the son of a farmer, his education began at the local elementary school. Becoming a barrister, he was for a time a magistrate in Cochin, China, and later, in Algeria. Returning home he entered Parliament as deputy for Nimes in 1893, becoming Minister of the Colonies in 1902. In 1906 he became Minister of Commerce, and subsequently Minister of Education. In December, 1913, M. Doumergue became Premier until the outbreak of the war, when he joined M. Viviani's Cabinet as Minister for the Colonies. In February, 1923, he. became president of the Senate. M. Douinergue is a bachelor, a Calvinist, and the first Protestant who has become president of the Republic.