PREPARING WELCOME.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 160, 8 June 1939, Page 9

PREPARING WELCOME.

THREE IMPORTANT NOTES. MEETING AT NIAGARA. NEW YORK, June 7. On tlie ovo of Their Majesties’ on try into the United States at Niagara three things stand out about the impending American tour. First, the extraordinarily favourable impression created throughout this country by their Canadian tour. Comment by Mrs Roosevelt on Monday, which is echoed universally, expressed the opinion that the British Sovereigns have showed themselves every inch a King and Queen not only in their regal demeanour, but also in the depth of their interest in their subjects and their simplicity and gentleness in all their dealings with them. Thus the United States will welcome . Their Majesties not only out of curiosity but with real affection. MORE STRENUOUS. Secondly if the Canadian journey made great demands upon the strength • of Their Majesties, then the American tour, though much briefer, nevertheless is likely to prove even more ; strenuous, because it seems to be indicated that everybody who is footloose will flock to the three focal points of Their Majesties’ American visit, namely Washington, New York and Hyde Park, and there is little likelihood that they, will he spared the typical i strenuousness of large-scale American hospitality. The difficulties of Sir Ronald Lindsay’s garden party apparently have i been ironed out, and 1400 guests will i attend. Other aspects of the Washingi ton visit involve a degree of military ? and official pomp and popular par--1 ticipation—already Washington hotels i are swamped with visitors —such as the city has never known before. 1 Their Majesties will visit the World • Fair and will spend, five minutes at , the Australian pavilion, to which Mr > McGregor has invited members of tho Australian colony for the occasion. The pouring out of the populace in • New York city proper as Their E Majesties tour through it en route to ' Columbia University and thence to ■ Hyde Park is giving the authorities much concern, and on many streets only holders of cards will bo permitted ■ to stand and view tho passing of > Royalty. s HYDE PARK PICNIC.

Plyde Park, Dll' Roosevelt’s birthplace, will be the scene ostensibly of complete informality, Their Dlajosties dining with the Roosevelts and family and picnicking with them and their neighbours, hut Mrs Roosevelt’s picnics are known to bo active affairs, and tho keenness of the gentry and farmers to see the .King and Queen promises to intensify the strenuousness of the day Their Dlajosties will spend at the President’s home. Unprecedented precautions have been taken by all authorities to assure the safety oi’ the Sovereigns. Police will ho stationed in, all high buildings to watch tho crowds while Their Majesties pass, anti all spectators in the immediate environs of Their Dlajesties. All windows along the route must he closed, and passing motor-cars must stop. Extiemely large numbers of police, State troopers, soldiers and sailors, as well as United States secret service operatives will guard the Sovereigns night and day. The Russell and Duchess of Kent incidents served to intensify the precautionary measures, 'and those reach a degree probably never before undertaken in America., SIGNIFICANT DYEI.COME. Dir Cordell Hull (American Secretary of State), Sir Ronald Lindsay (British Ambassador) and their respective entourages are leaving for Niagara to-night to welcome Their Dlajesties on American soil, lhat will mark tho beginning of a ceremony, which, aside from the elements nt socalled human interest, apparently lias a deeper political significance in the minds of most Americans. The Associated Press Washington ■ correspondent, lor instance, snjs. “The fact that the first visit of a rein-nine British monarch to the Unit,ed °States is made at one ol the most critical periods in the history of the British Empire cannot but stir the thoughts of international politicians, lie comes at a moment, too, when the United States itself is engaged in the greatest peace-time armaments programme in its history. He comes at , n instant when Congress is considering a change in the Neutrality Act which would enable Britain to get arms and munitions lrom the United

States in time of war. All these facts world politicians will searchingly endeavour to assay.”