HISTORIC SPEECHES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 10 June 1939, Page 9

HISTORIC SPEECHES

The King and President Roosevelt State Dinner at White House Friendship Between Two Nations

" Dies? Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received I Oth June, 9 a.m.) WASHINGTON. 9th June. Britain s King: and Queen slept to-night in White House, •which is painted white to hide the scars remaining when it was rebuilt after the British troops burned the capital in the war of 1812, their presence there symbolising more strongly the 1 burying of the past rancour than all the pomp and ceremony I of their fatiguing day. Earlier in the evening President Roosevelt and the King i toasted each other at a State dinner in White House, stressing j the friendship between the two nations and expressing con- j fidence that their friendship would always endure. Ihe text of President Roosevelt s toast to the King and | Queen at the State dinner in White House was as follows:

"In the life of a nation as in individuals, there are occasions that stand out in high relief, such as the present one. when the entire United States is welcoming on its soil the King and Queen of Britain, our neighbouring Canada, and all the far-flung British Commonwealth of Nations. “It is an occasion for festivities, but if also is fitting that we give thanks for the bonds of friendship linking our two peoples. I am persuaded that the greatest single contribution our two countries have ben enabled to make to civilisation and the welfare of the peoples throughout the world is the example we have jointly set by our manner of conducting our relations. “It is because each nation is lacking in fear of the other that we have unfortified borders between us. It is because nejther fears aggression on the part of the other that we have entered nr race of armaments one against the other. “The King and l are aware of the

turn. I bring you to-day warm greetings of your neighbour and trusted friend. From mv other Dominions, from the United Kingdom, from all my Empire I carry to you expressions of the utmost cordiality and goodwill. “As I drink a toast to you, Mr President. I wish you every possible health and happiness. I trust and believe that in the years to come the history of the United States will continue to be marked by that ordered progress and prosperity which has been theirs in the past. I pray that our great nations may ever in the future walk together along the path of friendship in a world of peace.”

recent epiauu*. .».o sitjall uninhabited islands in the centre of the Pacific became of sudden interest to England and America iv Stepping stones for commercial airlines between America and Australia. Both nations claimed sovereignty; both had good cases. To have entered into a long-drawn argument could have meant ill-will between us and delay in the use of the islands b> either. UNIVERSAL LESSON ‘lt was suggested that the problem be solved by the joint use of both islands and a gentleman's agreement to defer the question of the ultimate sovereignty to the year 1989. The passage of 50 years will solve many problems. • “If this illustration ot the use of methods of peace divorced from aggression could only be universally followed the relations between all countries would rest upon sure loundations, and men and women everywhere could once more look upon a happy, prosperous peaceful world. May this kind of understanding between our countries grow ever closer. May our friendship prosper. “Ladies and gentlemen, we drink to the health of His Majesty. King George VI." HIS MAJESTY'S RESPONSE His Majesty’s response to Mr Roosevelt’s toast was as follows: "The visit which the Queen and I are paying you to-day is something which has been in our minds ofr mrny weeks, and if we had our mo-

ments of anxiety, they have served to make us realise how intensely we have been looking forward to the pre-

sent occasion. I wish, therefore, in the first place, to thank you for your kind invitation and your still kinder welc me. We have been deeply touched by the manner in which Washington already has received us. and we expect to enjoy every minute of our remaining time in the United States. "Frcm Canada, which we have just left and whither we will soon re-