Crowd of 3,000,000

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 12 June 1939, Page 7

Crowd of 3,000,000

New York’s Welcome Warmth Beyond Expectations GRUELLING DAY FOR THEIR MAJESTIES (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 12th June, 9 a.m.) NEW YORK, 1 Ith June. I hree gruelling days of unending ceremonies, reaching their climax in a New York reception in the uproarious tradition of the skyscraper city brought the tired and weary King and Queen to President Roosevelt’s Hyde Park home for a wellearned and desperately needed week-end of rest and relaxation. Their Majesties were happy because the warmth of New York’s welcome exceeded everybody’s expectation, but they looked forward, nevertheless, to a night ai\d day of informality with nothing more eventful scheduled than a service on Sunday morning in the little Episcopal Church and the much-heralded “hot dog” dinner with President and Mrs Roosevelt. Their Majesties’ most trying day began with breakfast in Redbank, New Jersey, at 8 a.m., the earliest scheduled event throughout the American tour. A great ovation began when they left the train in Redbank. Thousands greeted them there with cheers and many thousands of others lined the roads as they drove 1 5 miles to Fort Hancock, where they boarded the destroyer Warrington for New York. As the destroyer left Fort Hancock the Royal Standard was raised to the masthead. It was the first time in history it has been flown from an American vessel. Harbour craft and excursion boats loaded with hundreds of people anxious to see Their Majesties pulled their whistles and foghorns open and left them there.

A 2 1 -gun salute was fired by the fort guns and another by the Warrington as Their Majesties stepped aboard.

FINAL WASHINGTON EVENT , DINNER AT BRITISH EMBASSY NEW YORK, 10th June. Their Majesties ended their historic Washington visit last night and entrained for New York, where a tumultuous welcome awaited them from the Western Hemisphere’s largest city. Before entraining shortly before midnight Their Majesties had performed the last official act of the capital visit by playing host to President and Mrs Roosevelt at a dinner at the British Embassy. The guests numbered just 36. In many ways it was a counterpart of Thursday’s State dinner at the White House, but it was even more formal and long toasts were omitted, since there seemed no point in repeating phrases already uttered. So it was simply “To the President” and “To the King.” The table was of walnut, set with Government silver running back to the days of George VI. At one end was a tall screen telling the brave tale of Drake and the Spanish Armada. Some of the plates were of silver and others were of fine china. The Queen wore a Victorian frock of deep rose tulle with a diamond tiara in her hair and two diamond necklaces about her neck, which still showed traces of sunburn from the long ride during yesterday’s procession. A dainty diamond strand was strapped about her wrist. No formal farewell at the station had been planned, but at the last minute it was decided that such a leave-taking was tinctured with abruptness, so the Secretary of State, Mr Cordell Hull, was on hand to say farewell on behalf of the capital. Their Majesties left at 11.45 p.m. A MILLION CHILDREN New York had completed arangements for the welcome, even outdoing the party that London put on for the Coronation, at least in point of numbers. Features of the busy day included the presence of a million schoolchildren along the drives in Central Park, a 51-mile drive through the city, gun salutes, the din of boat whistles, and the singing of “God Save the King.”

The major part of the time was spen' at the WorM’s Fair, where Their Majesties visited the Irish, Canadian Rhodesian, Australian, New Zealand, and British pavilions, and had lunch at the Federal building. Admission to the pavilions was by invitation only. Invitations had been keenly sought, since this was virtually the only chance of ~i close-up view of Their Majesties.

Enormous crowds, estimated at 3,000,000 greeted Their Majesties on their arrival at New York. The Royal couple seemed somewhat weary from the heat, which was most oppressive even for natives, but they were smiling and apparently eager to see the city. The destroyer Warrington, on which they travelled from Redbank, New Jersey, arrived at the Battery at 11.5 a.m.

Anxious to see the New York skyline ,Their Majesties remained on deck below the bridge, where cushioned wicker chairs were placed. A blimp and an escorting squadron of bombers circled overhead. Two ferries laden with Britons singing “God Save the King,” and a multitude of small craft supplemented the official escort of coastguard vessels. HEAT HAZE ON HARBOUR There was a heavy heat haze over the harbour and no sign of the shoreline when the Statue of Liberty suddenly loomed up. Then the skyline of lower Manhattan vaguely began to take a firm impression as the destroyer approached the Battery. It was almost as if a pair of binoculars were gradually being focussed. The guns at Fort Jay fired a salute as the destroyer was sighted.

Their Majesties disembarked shortly before noon and walked along a red velvet carpet, 269 ft long, laid the length of the pier. The mayor, Mr La Guardia, and the State Governor, Mr Lehman, officially welcomed Their Majesties, after the police band had played “God Save the King” and the “Star Spangled Banner.” The British Ambassador, Sir Ronald Lindsay, then joined the party. Ticker tape and scraps of confetti began to float from

the windows adjoining the buildings as Their Majesties entered an open bulletproof glassed car. Two cars containing high police officials led the proces-

sion. Everywhere along the route thousands jammed the sidewalks, rooftops and windows at every available vantage point. The temperature then was 84 degrees and was still rising. The greatest mobilisation of city police in New York’s history, totalling 13,382, lined the streets. They were ordered to face the crowds. PRESS TRIBUTES The New York Press expresses itself with exceptional warmth on the subject of Their Majesties. Even the Hearst “Daily Mirror” strikes an extraordinary note of friendliness, despite its usual notorious anti-British viewpoint. “He came, saw and conquered is the short, short story of the visit of George and his charming Queen to the United States, one-time colony of the British Empire,” says the paper. “Historians may ponder and perhaps comprehend this astounding fact: There isn’t a man in America who can unieash an explosion of popular acclaim that could match the burst of throat-stretching cheers that are greeting Their Britannic Majesties.”

“THE KEYS OF THE CITY" The “New York Times” in a more dignified way heads its leader “The Keys of the City,” and comments on the departure of the last representative of the British Crown, Sir Guy Carleton, who left New York 156 years ago. “We were obliged to ask Sir Guy to give up the keys of the city,” the "Times” says. “In a different and happier sense w’e give them back to George and Elizabeth. . . They have had a task before them from 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.” The New York “Herald-Tribune’s” leader, entitled, “History in the Making,” says: “With every reserve of judgment, who can miss the fact that these two very human Sovei’eigns. George and Elizabeth, are writing history and nothing else in their hasty but exceedingly warm and friendly dash to Washington, New York, Hyde Park, and back to Canada. . . To-day this city has its chance to share in the nation’s 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.” IVY CLAD CHURCH SERVICE ATTENDED BY THEIR MAJESTIES VILLAGE CROWDED WITH SPECTATORS HYDE PARK (New Jersey), 11th June. Their Majesties accompanied by President Roosevelt and Mrs Roosevelt, and members of the Royal Party, left Hyde Park House at 10.45 a.m. en route for the tiny St. James Episcopal

Church. Both Their Majesties looked refreshed after a good night’s sleep. They waved to the crowds lining the road. Hundreds of spectators were massed in Hyde Park village and there were hundreds more around the quaint brown stone ivy-clad church. Brilliant sun presaged the hottest day this year. The sky was cloudless, but a tempering breeze made the weather bearable. Dozens of girl students from the famous Vasar College were among the waving crowd. Many parishioners of the church who were unable to enter due to lack of space stood on the lawn.