KING GEORGE IN PARIS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22460, 22 July 1938, Page 13

KING GEORGE IN PARIS

WREATH PLACED AT ARC DE TRIOMPHE PICTURESQUE CEREMONY ON THE SEINE TRIBUTE PAID TO STRENGTH OF THE ENTENTE (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT.) (Received July 21, 2 p.m.) PARIS, July 20. "King George brought London weather" was the Parisians' jest apropos of the misty morning, when His Majesty, in the uniform of a Field-Marshal, in a motor-car preceded by 12 policemen on motorcycles, and escorted by a detachment of the Republican Guard and attended by French military and civil officials, drove to the Are, de Triomphe and placed a wreath on the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The Champs Elysees were cleared of traffic, which was stopped for two hours, but the citizens uncomplainingly accepted the delays, which caused thousands to be late for work.

The troops which guarded the route, and, white-cloaked Spahis and former servicemen, with 100 banners, who encircled the Arc de Triomphe, saluted as the King went forward to place a wreath of Flanders poppies, with a ribbon in the British colours, on the tomb, and bands played the French and British National Anthems. As His Majesty, almost kneeling, reverently placed the wreath on the tomb, buglers sounded the call "Aux Morts," which is equivalent to "Last Post," after which there was a minute's silence. Their Majesties later travelled along the Seine in a specially-built Royal barge to the Hotel de Ville. This was one of the most picturesque ceremonies of the visit. The King wore an Admiral's uniform, and the Queen a gown of ivory lace, and a white hat with a plume of ostrich feathers. She carried a white fox fur. The Royal visitors, who were accompanied by the President (M. Lebrun) and Madame Lebrun. were piped aboard the decorated bartfe by the boatswain. The barge, which was escorted by naval motor-boat;?, made a procession of two miles and a half through historic and anciem Paris.

The banks were lined with troops and multitudes Of citizens. Shouts of "Vive le Roi" resounded throughout the voyage. . Members of the municipality received Their Majesties at the Hotel de Ville. The King, responding to the address of welcome, recalled that his grandfather had visited the Hotel de Ville in 1903, and had helped to lay the foundations of the Entente between France and Britain. In 1914 the Entente received the baptism of fire. "To-day I come to find that the Entente has lost nothing of its strength and vitality," said the King. His Majesty concluded by paying a tribute to the "grace, beauty and friendliness of the Parisians' reception, by which the Queen and myself have been much moved." Their Majesties lunched at the British Embassy, when their was a brilliant diplomatic assembly.

HEAVY PROGRAMME OF ENGAGEMENTS QLEEN RECEIVES RED CROSS AWARD (BRITISH OFFICIAL WIBIXBSS.) RUGBY, July 20. The King and Queen discharged a heavy programme of engagements to-day in Paris. After the luncheon at the British Embassy, they visited the Louvre to view an exhibition of British art. They were accompanied by the President (M. Lebrun) and Madame Lebrun. Their Majesties later attended a garden party at the Bagatelle Gardens. . Their Majesties also took part in a small ceremony in which the Marquise de Lillers, President of the French Red Cross Council and of the Society to Aid Wounded Soldiers, gave the Queen the Red Cross Medal of Honour which had been awarded to Her Majesty by special decision of the Central Red Cross' Committee on the occasion of her visit to the conference in London.

Associated with the taking of the award were Madame Lyautey, the widow of the famous soldier, who is president of the Central Committee to Aid Wounded Soldiers, the Comtesse de Galard, president of the Association of French Ladies, and Madame St. Rene Taillandier, General President of the Union of the Women of France. All were presented to Their' Majesties, as were, also, Marshal Petain, General Franchet Desperey, Madame Foch, Madame Joffre, General and Madame Weigand and General Gourand. This evening Their Majesties gave a dinner at the British Embassy in honour of the President and Madame Lebrun, and later they attended a gala performance of the opera.

MINISTERS CONFER IN PARIS LORD HALIFAX AND FRENCH LEADERS - PARIS, July 20.

The British Foreign Secretary (Lord Halifax) met the Prime Minister (M. Daladier) and the Foreign Minister (M. Bonnet) to-day to have personal exchanges. It is likely that the, conversations wili be continued to-morro<