CHILLY WELCOME FOR QUEEN

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30569, 12 October 1964, Page 13

CHILLY WELCOME FOR QUEEN

Demonstrators In Quebec Arrested

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

QUEBEC CITY, October 10.

A chilly welcome, coupled with sporadic demonstrations and 10 arrests, greeted the Queen today when she and Prince Philip arrived in this hotbed of French-Canadian separatist feeling for a two-day visit.

As the Queen, speaking in French, was addressing dignitaries in the Quebec Legislature, a group of about 30 young people outside began chanting “Quebec libre,” (free Quebec).

Police, with batons drawn, quickly moved in and hustled 10 of them off in police cars. The Queen told about 240 Quebec Government members and officials in the red and gold Legislative Council chamber: "This country is the meeting place of two great civilisations, each contributing its own genius and quality." In French Her address was in French, except for a single paragraph in English. When she and Prince Philip left the building there were further demonstrations by young people shouting "Quebec for Quebecers,” but there were no further arrests. Earlier, the Royal couple had driven to the legislature along a closely-guarded route from the pier where the Britannia had docked. The yacht brought them from Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, which they left last Wednesday night. Troops were stationed every 20 yards along the one-and-three-quarter mile drive, up the rugged cliffs to the Plains of Abraham, where the British general, Wolfe, defeated France’s Montcalm 200 years ago. More Troops At many points along the way troops and police outnumbered spectators. There were, however, some scattered waves, and an occasional cheer. Another hostile demonstration occurred later near the entrance to the residence of Lieutenant - Governor Paul Contois, where the Royal guests were being entertained to lunch. • About 25 young people turned their backs as the Queen's motorcade passed, and shouted jibes. One group sent up cheers for “Vive Elizabeth,” followed by the mocking cry, “Taylor,” a reference to the screen star, Elizabeth Taylor. They also sang the Marseillaise before being scattered by police. But there were also cheers at the gate of the residence from a crowd of about 250 women and children. About 200 college-age demonstrators marched to the city police station to protest against the earlier arrests, but after parading around the building they were dispersed by truncheon-waving police. Own Regiment The Queen received her most enthusiastic welcome so far from several hundred guests and friends who watched her review a parade of her own French-Canadian Royal 22nd Regiment at its sunken garden fortress headquarters on the Plains of Abraham. The regiment, of which the Queen is colonel-in-chief, was marking its fiftieth anniversary. She wore a deep rose coat with a matching cloche hat for the occasion. An R.C.M.P. twin-engine aircraft circled continuously over the parade ground, highlighting the tight security precautions. During her one-hour visit, the Queen lit an eternal flame and formally dedicated a new regimental memorial of white stone, built to commemorate the 1450 men who died in action with the regiment in the First and Second World Wars and in Korea.

The French-Canadian flavour of Quebec predominated at the parade. All orders to the four 50-man guard groups, and the regimental band, resplendent in bearskins and red tunics were in French. Outside the citadel, a band of Quebec separatists tried to hold a demonstration but were quelled by orangecoated riot police armed with batons. Witnesses said scores of young separatists, who appeared to be university students, had made their way up the outer ramparts of the grassed fortifications, and began chanting separatist slogans. Several photographers complained that the riot police had also hit them while they were trying to film the scene.

Some reporters said they had also been hit by swinging batons during this morning’s demonstration. The demonstrators’ chanting this afternoon could not be heard on the parade ground. There, the most spectacular moment of the military parade came when the 200 men fired off a feu de joie —three volleys of rifle shots. The men then took off their black and red banded caps and gave the Queen three cheers before joining in singing “Oh, Canada.” The Queen and Prince Philip afterwards drove to the regimental residence of Governor-General Georges Vanier, a colonel of the regiment. There, the officers and their wives were to entertain the Royal party at afternoon tea.