ROYAL TOUR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 177, 29 July 1939, Page 8

ROYAL TOUR.

CONSEQUENCES IN U.S.A. AN AMERICAN SUMMING UP. (By TRA WOLFERT.) XEW YORK, June 12. What has been accomplished by all tin: ordeal of a tour which Canadian newspapers themselves have described as "Royal torture'' and "'barbaric"'? Three of the four days King George VI. and Queen Elizabeth spent in the United States were so packed with ceremonies —none of them undertaken for the fun of it, each with a definite political objective—as to make the tour of Canada seem like a rest cure. The question has no answer that will appeal to all sides as. being both fair and conclusive. As this reporter lias reason to know from the mail his dispatcher; from the Royal train aroused —some of it beginning. "You Xazi so-and-so. - ' some of it beginning, "You pro-British so-and-so." all of it including a suggestion about maltreatment of his tender person—the issue is controversial. But there arc certain items that may be packed along as baggage when leaping to a conclusion: (1) The tour of the provinces of Canada was an unqualified success, a success so great that it astonished as much a* it delighted members of the King's own staff. (2) The march past Washington and New York was a qualified success. Members of the Royal party who have sfime knowledge of the United States and the complexities of the American attitude toward Great Britain and its fight to maintain the peace of Europe, the democratic way of life and the British Empire were very much cheered by the results of the visit. No Concrete Result. Those of the Royal party who wen' not familiar with either the United States or it-; politics were disappointed. They expected a concrete political result, not so much perhaps a definite commitment as Great Britain's ally in tlie event of war (although they were willing), but a statement by someone in power —preferably the President—that could be interpreted in Germany as the formation of an indissoluble united front against Hitler's antics in Central Europe. As it has been left —the-e individuals comment — with the major political result only expressions of cordiality an<l friendship and a vague emotion about "ideals in common," Germany is once again where she was in 1914, when Foreign Minister Edward Grey's vacillation left the Kaiser's advisers fairly sure Britain would not fight over an invasion of Belgium. This puts a delicate matter into the bluntest words, and the words, it should be noted, are your reporter's summary of courtly language. The courtly language involves an attitude and maybe even a belief that the United States occupies today a position equivalent to the position occupied by England in mil —that is, not directly within the. Continent of Europe, but on the immediate border. With this as a premise, it is not hard to understand the disappointment at the failure of the United States to transform the Royal visit here into the democratic equivalent of a visit between Hitler and Mussolini. No matter how long the words may be studied in the Wilhelm-t ras.- c. the King's aides feel—and quite rightly—that there will not be drawn from them a plain warnimr that, if Hitler intends to fight Britain, he will have to count on fighting the I'nitcd States, too. It should be emphasised that, this i* the opinion of men who—for all this reporter knows —may not be representative of the opinion in British Government circles. 7t is the opinion of a certain number of men who are attached to the King by reason of friendship and service, have daily access to the King's ear. and. through him. to the ears and words of the King's Ministers in London. In weighing their opinions, it should be considered that they are convinced a general war is imminent unle-s dra-tic r-teps are taken to bully Hitler into keeping the peace, and also that the internal politic* of tin- United States are very mysterious to them. Conflicting Views. On the other side of the picture then' art' those in the King's private circle who believe that the King accomplished more than could reasonablv be expected during hi- brief \isit. An emotion was created which i- valuable :i t all times to both Great Britain and Klie I'uited States and which -would be invaluable to Great Britain should it become involved in war. Less subjectively, it i.- felt Germany mu-t understand that Cre.it Britain and (lie United States have nunc t,. tin- limit- of po--ibility in iudicatin: an approchement through the Royal vi~it. They believe Hitler will realise the United State* c.mhl go no further than an expression of regard and friend-hip in timcvvhich are nominally peaceful. On the other hand, there arc the European correspondents aboard the Royal train who have been in Germany recently. They say that, if the Ivoyal tour of this continent was undertaken as part of Britain's rearmament programme—to ensure Canada's loyalty ami evolve a ''united front"' response in the United States —then it was ''a desperation move'' of little value. Xa/.i otlicials have discounted American and Canadian aid, they say. and tin; Nazis are convinced that, if there is war, Germany will have won it before a bullet can cross tlic ocean.— (N.A.N.A.)