ROYAL TOUR

Evening Star, Issue 23270, 19 May 1939, Page 9

ROYAL TOUR

THEIR MAJESTIES IN QUEBEC GREETED BY 35,000 CHILDREN KING’S REPLY TO PREMIER'S SPEECH COMMAND OVER THE FRENCH LANGUAGE Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright QUEBEC, May 17. The Australian Associated Press special correspondent states that their Majesties were given pleasant relief from ceremonial in their crowded first day in Canada by a visit to Battlefields Park, where 35,000 excited children waved English, French, and Canadian flags and sang the National Anthem, first in French and then in English. Their Majesties were obviously delighted with the warmth of the reception. The Queen received a bouquet of roses from three little girls in white, representing French-Canadians, AngloCatholics, and Anglo-Protestants. Unintentionally, Her Majesty gave an inkling of the sacrifice she made as a mother in leaving England. During a brilliant ceremony in the Red Chamber of the provincial Parliament, her gaze fell on the only child among the bright uniforms and beautiful gowns, the six-year-old grandson of the Lieutenant-Governor (the Hon. E. L. Patenaude). A happy light flashed into the Queen’s eye, and for a full minute she remained in a brown study, her eyes fixed on the boy, and her thoughts obviously miles away. Their Majesties will be able to speak by radio telephone with the Princesses from the Royal train, which they will board to-morrow for Montreal. It is understood that they intend to telephone every day. The King delighted French-Oaua-dians by replying to the Premier’s speech in French. They were impressed by his command of their language.

HONOURING “GREAT WHITE FATHER"

INDIANS FROM THE RESERVATIONS QUEBEC, May 17. The special correspondent of the Australian Associated Press aboard the Royal pilot train says: “ Their Majesties’ path today lies along the north shore of the St. Lawrence River, where ribbon-like farms still huddle together as they did when the warwhoop of the Iroquois drove the owners hastily together for defence. At Montreal Indians from reservations in all parts of Canada have gathered to honour the Great White Father and Queen. Their Majesties will see braves in moccasins and beaded buckskin chiefs in feathered headdresses, and squaws with papooses on their backs.” By the cardinal’s orders the bells of Quebec’s 80 churches rang out whenever their Majesties appeared in the streets.

The Queen, at a dinner tendered by the Provincial Government, at which she was toasted in French, wore a regal pompadour crinoline gown of pale peach, the bodic'e of which had a goldsequiued decolletage outlined with ruchings of meline.

AMBASSADOR RECEIVES REPORTERS

VARIETY OF QUESTIONS WASHINGTON, May 18. (Received May 19, at 10.30 a.m.) The British Ambassador (Sir Ronald Lindsay) received the Press at his own request regarding the Royal visit. He stated that their Majesties were coming to the United States to improve the ties of friendship between the two countries. “ There is no more political purpose than that in it,” he said. The King would make one speech in the United States, consisting merely of a few remarks proposing the health of the President at the White House State dinner.

• Numerous women reporters present complained that only a few of them had been invited to the Embassy garden party. Sir Ronald said:. “A garden party is just like heaven, you know. Some are taken and some are not.” One girl asked how the King was going to meet average Americans if the official schedule were adhered to. “ Average Americans?” mused Sir Ronald. “ There are an awful lot of them, you know.” Ho declined to rule whether women should curtsey to the Queen, adding, “ 1 think the men should conduct themselves as I do when I meet the President.” A Reporter: “ How do you act?” Sir Ronald: “ I behave in a suitable and respectful manner and certainly make him a bow, but whether it comes from the waist or not I don’t know.”

LOST DAYS MADE UP THE FULL ITINERARY OTTAWA, May 18. (Received May 19, at 10 a.m.) The two days lost by their Majesties’ delayed arrival are being made up by cutting down their stay in Ottawa from four to two and, a-half days and ■redufi-

ing the day at Kingston to a brief drive, says the special representative of the Australian Associated Press. The full itinerary is as follows; May 19-21; At Ottawa, where the King will visit Parliament for the first time in history to give Royal assent to the dominion’s- Bills, unveil the national war memorial, and witness the trooping of the colour. The Queen will lay the cornerstone of the Supreme Court building. ' May 22: Toronto, where the Dionne quintuplets will be presented. May 23: Schreiber, Port Arthur, and Fort William. May 24: Winnipeg, where the King will broadcast to the world an Empire Day message. May 25: Regina and Moose Jaw. May 26: Medicine Hat and Calgary, where the King and Queen will attend a rodeo. May 27: At Banff, where their Majesties will rest. May 28; Kamloops. May 29-30: Vancouver. May 31: Victoria, New Westminster, and Chilliwack. June 1: Jasper, where their Majesties will resiL June 2: Edmonton. June 3: Saskatoon and Melville. June 4: Sioux and Lookout. June 5; Sudbury. June 6: Guelph, Kitchener, Stratford, and Windsor. June 7: London, Ingersoll, Woodstock, Brantford, Hamilton, and St. Catherines, then to Niagara Falls by car. June 8-11: In the United States. June 12; Return to Canada. Nelson, Sherbrooke, Levis, and Riviere du Loup. June 13: Newcastle, Fredericton, Fairville, and by car to St. John’s Moncton. June 15: Cape Tormentine, Charlottetown, and by destroyer to Pictou, June'l4; New Glasgow. June 15: Halifax, and leaving for England at 7 p.m.

MONTREAL’S RECEPTION

DEMONSTRATIVE SUBJECTS TRAVEL FAR INDIAN CHIEF WEARS SCOTTISH PLAID MONTREAL, May 18. (Received May 19, at 12.30 p.m.) The Australian Associated Press special correspondent says Canada’s biggest city and the world’s largest .inland port gave their Majesties a tremendous reception to-day. Montreal’s normal population of 1,300,000 was swelled to upwards of 2,000,000, many travelling hundreds of miles from the far corners of the province and cheering themselves hoarse along the 23mile processional route. It was the largest crowd that will greet their Majesties until they reach New York on June 10. Obviously deeply moved by the warmth of the reception, their Majesties were particularly delighted at two functions during the crowded) day—the gathering of 85,000 French-Canadian children at Ball Park and 115,000 Anglo-Canadians at Molson Stadium. They heard ‘ God Save the King ’ and “Vive le Roi!” sung and shouted, and saw Empire flags waved with equal enthusiasm. ' There was no doubtin gthe warmth of the Redskins’ welcome to their Majesties, even though the presence of a Scottish plaid struck an anachronistic note in the otherwise authentic garb Of Chief Old Big Sun, who expressed himself in verse thus; We used to scalp our foes And eat their juicy limbs; But now we’ve learnt the arts of peace, As taught in Christian hymns. . We used to dance and whoop, But now that we can sing, We’ll wave our bloodless tomahawks And cry, “God save the King!”