THEIR MAJESTIES SAIL

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 140, 16 June 1939, Page 9

THEIR MAJESTIES SAIL

isjVD OF TRIUMPHANT VISIT TO

NEW WORLD

FAREWELLS BY RADIO

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.) (Received June 16, 10 a.m.) HALIFAX, June 15. After saying farewell to the millions of Canadians and Americans by radio with "full minds and full hearts," their Majesties sailed at 6.32 p.m. for England at the close of their triumphant 9127 miles tour of the New World. Warm sun was shining as the Royal train rolled on to the pier from which they left aboard the Empress of Britain. Lord Tweedsmuir, Governor-General of Canada, and Lady Tweedsmuir, the Lieutenant-Govenaor of Nova Scotia, Mr. Robert Irwin, the Premier, Mr. Angus Macdonald, the Mayor, Mr. Walter Mitchell, and Admiral Sir Dudley .North, who will escort their Majesties home, were on the platform to greet them. The King wore an undress Admiral's uniform, and the Queen an Alice blue dress with a short jacket of the same material. Their Majesties' farewells were said in the capital of New Scotland, where the British migration to Canada started shortly before 1621, when James I granted a charter to Sir William Alexander. A pageant by Nova Scotian baronets in authentic plaids was presented, particularly in order to honour the Queen's Scottish ancestry. After formal welcoming ceremonies, their Majesties returned to the train, shook hands, and said good-bye to the 65 members of the crew of the Royal train, from the engineer to the bus boy.

The King told several men that they had done splendidly. The Queen asked the head waiter, Mr. Emil Le May, in French if he was not very tired, and he replied: "It is a pleasure to be tired for you, your Majesty." Her Majesty told the baggage master, Mr. C. A. Biloden, "You have done wonderfully in taking care of our baggage. Thank you so much." As she turned away, a voice with a heavy English accent was heard to say, "She is a marvel; that's what she is." During the drive through the city the crowd was so enthusiastic that it broke through the police lines and temporarily isolated their Majesties' car from the remainder of the procession. The King conferred the following insignia:— Royal Victorian Order, Lord Tweedsmuir, Knight Grand Cross of the British Empire, Mr. A. S. Redfern, Viceregal Secretary. Knight Commander of the British Empire, Lieut-Colonel Eric Mackenzie, Comptroller of the Viceregal1 Household.

origins, and in all walks of life. We hope we have made many friends among you. We have had the opportunity also of crossing your border and paying at. all too brief visit to Canada's great and friendly neighbour to the south. Our. minds and hearts are full. We leave your shores after some of the most inspiring and illuminating weeks in our lives." "ALMOST A MIRACLE." Continuing in French, he said: "My first duty is to thank you all from the bottom of my heart. In a very short time you have enabled us to see many things. We have to thank you not only for your personal kindness but for the perfection of your arrangements. I must say that I think we have almost performed a miracle in surmounting the many difficulties presented by covering so vast a space in so limited a time. Reverting to English, he said:— "I return to England with a new sense of the resources and responsibilities of our British Empire. I am confident that Canada has before her development far beyond the most optimistic dreams of her pioneers. Her growth in material wealth is fully assured, and for her sons and daughters I wish her an even greater growth in stature, mind, and spirit. "I go home with another thought which is a comfort and an inspiration. From the Atlantic to the Pacific and from the tropics to the Arctic lies a large part of the earth where there is nr possibility of war between neighbours and whose peoples are wholly dedicated to the pursuits of peace and are a pattern to all men of how civilised nations should live together. It is good to know that such a region exists, for what man can do once he can do again, by God's grace. Yours may yet be an example which all the world will follow." THE QUEEN'S MESSAGE. The Queen said:— "I cannot leave Canada without saying a word of farewell to you all and thanking you for the wealth of affection you have offered us throughout these unforgettable weeks. Seeing this great country, with all its varied beauty and interest, has been a real delight to me, but what has warmed my heart in a way I cannot express in words is the proof you have given us everywhere that you were glad to see us, and in return I want particularly to tell the women and children of Canada how glad I am to have seen so many of them. "Some, I know, came scores of miles to meet us, and that touched me deeply. There were many others, I fear, whom distance or illness prevented from coming. To these I should like to send a special word of greeting. They have been always in my thoughts. This wonderful tour of ours has given me memories that the passage of time will never dim. - "To the people of Canada and to all the kind people in the United States who welcomed us so warmly last week, to one and all on this great and friendly continent I say 'Thank you. God be with you and God bless you. Au revoir et Dieu vous benisse." THE FINAL SCENE. The final call of the tour, amounting to only a few hours, is scheduled for Saturday at Saint John's, Newfoundland. A cheering throng which was estimated by the police at 150,000 roared out a last farewell as their Majesties left Halifax. The crowd amounted to twice the population of Halifax. They had cheered their Majesties throughout their seven-hour stay in the Nova Scotian capital. Their Majesties boarded the liner at 5.27 p.m. after having lunched at Government House. In response to repeated calls of "We want the King and Queen," they appeared at the rail shortly before the Empress of Britain pulled out, and crowds along the sea wall began singing "Auld Lang Syne" almost at the moment that smoke began to stream from the centre funnel, and the strains of the song were one of the last things their Majesties heard as they sailed.