“Keys of the City Handed Back”

Northern Advocate, 12 June 1939, Page 5

“Keys of the City Handed Back”

NEW YORK, June 10

The newspapers express themselves with exceptional warmth towards Their Majesties, and even the Hearst paper, the “Daily Mirror” strikes an extraordinary note of friendliness, in spite of its usual notorious antiBritish viewpoint.

“ ‘He came, he saw, he conquered,’ is the short, short story of the visit of King George and his charming Queen to the United States, one-time colony of the British Empire,” says the “Daily Mirror.” “Historians may ponder, and perhaps comprehend this astounding fact: There is not a man in America who can unleash an explosion of popular acclaim that could match the burst of throat-stretching cheers that are greeting Their Britannic Majesties.” Unprecedented Occasion. The “New York Times,” in more dignified style heads its leader: “The keys of the city,” and comments on the departure of the last representative of the British Crown who left New York 156 years ago—Sir Guy Carleton.

“We were obliged to ask Sir Guy to give up the keys of the city. In a different and happier sense we give them back to King George and Queen Elizabeth. They have had a task before which ,any mortal might shrink.” Neither was trained to it from birth, indeed, there was no training and no protocol which could guide the conduct of a British King and Queen on American soil, nor which could hide insincerity, if that quality had been in their natures. Happily, it was not.” “Very Human Sovereigns.” The “New York Herald-Tribune’s” leader is entitled: “History in the Making.” It says: “With every reserve of judgment, who can miss the fact that these two very human sovereigns, King George and Queen Elizabeth, are writing history, and nothing else, in their hasty but exceedingly warm .and friendly dash to Washington, New York, Hyde Pai’k and back to Canada.

“Today this city has its chance to share their subjects’ greeting. By every sign the welcomers will surpass in numbers and enthusiasm any similar gathering, not to form new bonds, but to renew old ones—as old as the English tongue, and English freedom.

“New York will stand up and cheer these very human envoys from an ancient and friendly people.”

Canada’s Foreign Policy.

The Washington correspondent of the “New York Times,” commenting on Their Majesties’ Canadian tour says: “The warmth of the Dominion’s greeting came as a surprise to many Canadian politicians, and there may bo repercussions in Canada’s foreign policy. “Great crowds and enthusiasm in the large cities had been anticipated: it was in the small places that enthusiasm outran expectations.

“Regard for Their Majesties appeared to be as great in sections almost exclusively inhabited by Poles, Lithuanians and other recent immigrants as in the English-speaking portions.

Faith In British Way.

“Canadian politicians apparently came to the conclusion that the outpouring ot people and cheers reflected the still strong belief that Britain stood for tranquillity and security in a troubled world. “The cheers welcoming Their Majesties meant to observers that Canadians believe in the course the British are pursuing. Therefore, their leaders semed to reason that perhaps much isolationist talk in the Federal Parliament and in some local political quarters was without popular support.”