The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14, 1939. ROYALTY IMPRESSES AMERICA

Evening Star, Issue 23292, 14 June 1939, Page 8

The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14, 1939. ROYALTY IMPRESSES AMERICA

“ Thet are sincere and straightforward people paying a courtesy call, and they deserve neither hard-boiled scepticism nor adulation by ballyhoo,” declared the ‘ Christian Science Monitor,’ of Boston, in one of its admirable previews of the Royal visit to the United States. Sincere and straightforward people are exactly what the King and Queen are, and it is evident from the cabled descriptions of the historic tour that this is what the discerning American public discovered them to be. The Americans are not very well versed in Royalty and the atmosphere surrounding it—a fact which probably accounted for the original to-do in certain quarters over the curtsey and the observance of various forms of etiquette thought to be so dear to the hearts of the British aristocracy. When the great time came, however, the vital human qualities of the young British King and his Queen completely eradicated all apprehension regarding the more or less superficial details associated with personages who walk in high places. The pressmen of the United States have dearly found King George to be a “ regular fellow ” and Queen Elizabeth an attractive woman typifying all that is best in Scottish homo life. The important daily newspapers of the country, journals which do not hesitate to bo outspoken, strike the same editorial theme. Now that the brief but triumphant tour is over it would seem that, after all, there was no need for the excellent ‘ Christian

Science Monitor ’ to warn Britons that they should not be surprised or shocked at “ the 'lively things that the American Press and the American people may say about their Royalty—things which would not necessarily imply any disrespect but would arise from the fact that Americans treat Royalty as thev do other prominent people.” The manner in which their Majesties have conducted themselves throughout an arduous programme has obviously won the hearts of the citizens of the great sister democracy. Following the British and American discouragement of further aggression in Europe, it was only to be expected that the German Press, inspired from Nazi propaganda headquarters, would adopt “a sour note which sounds slightly nervous.” The increasing spirit of friendship arising between Englishspeaking nations which between them have enormous resources and conseauently exercise a strong influence towards maintaining the territorial status quo in Europe and elsewhere, cannot nossibly accord with the wishes of a country whoso Government has proved itself before the eves of the world a violator of treaties, agreements, „ud promises, and the harbourer of views that can be interpreted only as possessive to an extreme degree. The political significance of tho Royal tour of the United States has not been stressed in the newspapers “ because, if the demonstration of democratic unity had been too pointed, it would undoubtedly have aroused the concern of American isolationists. The greatest care was wisely exercised by a'll concerned, and no suspicions were stirred or nerves set quivering." It is .well that this should bo so, for it would be a mistake on tho part of nations working earnestly for peace to indulge in any spectacular demonstrations in any way suggestive of a challenge. From the British point of view it is satisfactory to know that the United States realises more vividly than ever that the Empire is one of the essential bulwarks of world stability. There is no need to praise or condemn the history of the British Empire; to-day it aims at policies whose successful fruition is vital to lasting peace. The United States knows that they incorporate her own interests.