Elaborate Plans For Their Majesties Visit To Canada and U.S.

Northern Advocate, 13 May 1939, Page 7

Elaborate Plans For Their Majesties Visit To Canada and U.S.

QUEBEC, May 11. AND ELABORATE PLANS FOR THE RECEPTION OF • THEIR MAJESTIES ON THEIR TOUR OF CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES ARE NEAR COMPLETION, STATES THE SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVES OF THE AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS, WHO WILL ACCOMPANY THE ROYAL PARTY, WHICH IS DUE ON MONDAY. THE ROYAL VISIT WILL PER MIT THE GREAT MASS OF PEOPLE TO EXPRESS THEIR LOYALTY TO THE EMPIRE.

Their Majesties will face one of the most strenuous programmes ever undertaken by Royalty. In the course of a month they will travel 6000 miles and stop ,at 52 Canadian cities and towns.

As evidence of his desire to conform with democratic practices, the King will break precedent by receiving the press, once in Canada and once in the United States.

Most elaborate precautions for Their Majesties’ safety are being taken by the Canadian and American authorities, who are co-operating with Scotland Yard officials who arrived two months ago.

Far-Reaching Precautions. < Their Majesties will travel in the same train throughout both countries. The train will be fitted with bulletproof windows. It will average only 30 m.p.h. and will travel in daylight, being switched on to sidings after nightfall. Barriers are being erected at bridges and viaducts are being guarded. The train staff has undergone rigorous health tests, and is being kept in virtual quarantine. A force of 10,000 ex-servicemen will supplement the “Mounties” and local police at the three main Canadian cities. Along the routes of procession persons will not be allowed above the third floor of commercial buildings. The throwing of flowers is prohibited.

At Washington. In the United States, for the first time in history, the army, navy and marines have all been called upon to supplement the Secret Service, G-men, and State and Municipal police. At Washington 11,000 troops will line the route from the station to White House. Contrary to precedent they will face the crowd. Selected groups will carry loaded rifles, with instructions to watch the movements of .all in sight. Their Majesties will travel in an open car with bullet-proof windscreens all round. At least two. members of the Secret Service will stand on the running boards. Twenty Federal agents will form a personal guard through the visit. Similar precautions are being taken for the ride up Broadway, New York. The police will guard the entrances to every building overlooking the route; .and examine the credentials of occupants. Good Natured Criticism. There has been criticism in the United States regarding the visit, but the Republican is chiefly good-natured. Few feel as strongly about history as does Mr Martin Sweeney, ,a member of Congress, who recommended that the Royal entertainment should include the lighting of bonfires on Capitol Hill and in the White House grounds, “lest Their Majesties forget 1814, when the British burned the Capitol at White House.” The isolationist press has been issuing a warning that “They arc coming here to sell us the idea that their troubles are our troubles.” It has also raised the war debts question with some bitterness, pointing out that the semi-annual payment is duo the week after Their Majesties dine with the President and Mrs Roosevelt. The tone of critical newspapers has changed noticeably in the past week. Even the He.arst Journal, the “Now York Daily Mirror,” stated editorially: “Americans have grown to like King George and his Queen. Most of us feel that they are two of the most honest and most straight-forward people in a high place today. “British residents in the United States are confident that the King’s quiet dignity and the Queen’s warm personality, and the unassuming simplicity of both, will win American hearts.”

Coronation Ceremony The second anniversary of the Coronation of Their Majesties was celebrated aboard the Empress of Australia. Attendant cruisers manned ship and fired a 21-gun salute. The King ordered “the main brace to be spliced.” Descriptive Commentary A British Official Wireless message gays a descriptive commentary on the arrival of Their Majesties at Quebec will be broadcast from Daventry at 2,15 p.m. (Greenwich mean time) on

Monday, and recordings will be broadcast at intervals throughout the day.