GOODWILL TOUR

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 166, 17 July 1939, Page 2

GOODWILL TOUR

DOUBTS DISAPPEARED SQUEEZED QUEEN'S HAND “SHE SQUEEZED MINE GENTLY*’

SAN FRANCISCO, June 20. Any carping criticism .indulged in by anti-Britisih newspapers in the 1 United States was entirely wi[K?d away by the visit ot the King and Queen of J England to the territory ot Uncle Sam. The Royal couple won the everlasting esteem of the millions of Americans by reason of their charm and simplicity of demeanour, and it was a great revelation to the battery of Canadian journalists who accompanied the King and Queen to Washington and New York. The Queen, in particular, captivated the American populace, thousands of * whom stood hours on the line of pro- . cession eagerly awaiting a glimpse of Queen Elizabeth and King George. A number of journalists, who accompanied the Royal Party twice ■ across Canada and journeyed into Washington, submitted to broadcast < interviews and their remarks were at once enlightening as tending to show the remarkable warmth of the United ■ States reception. Miss Jennie McTaggart, of the Toronto Star, said: “I think I can say ’ that when we started with this tour at Quebec we were all amazed and in love with the Queen, but on the pilot train we became in love also with the ( King. We have come to appreciate ' what a magnificent King he truly is. To use a Canadian expression he wears well.” George Hicks: You mean what we j Americans would say that he has ■ proved himself to be game and he can 1 “take it”? Miss McTaggart: That is what we mean. Mr. C. B. Piper, of the Toronto Evening Telegram, said: “My main : impression is that of Washington, ; which topped the whole tour. We had been told I hat Their Majesties were - to get a great reception but none of ' us anticipated what they got to-day. i I am not susceptible to thrill and ox- ’ citement, but I was truly amazed and ] actually excited during the procession ; to the White House.” Robinson McLean of the Toronto Telegram, said: “What made m? proudest,of lhe democracies and tho King and Queen came when a girl Scout came up to the Queen and handed Her Majesty a bouquet of flowers and lhe Queen said, ‘I. am glad lo see you. You know, I have a daughter who is interested in the girl Scout movement!’ “It was a very touching incident and stands out in my memory as ty;dcal of the love and devotion of the Queen. There they were, a mother ( and a daughter talking together in tho ’ greatest .simplicity.” King’s Sense nf Humour King George's sense of humour was compared by Senator Key Pittman, ol Nevada, with that of the late Calvin Coolidge, renowned for hi.s dry, New England wit. The Nevadan, chairman of the reception committee when lhe King and Queen met Senators and representatives of the capital, related a conversation ho had with lhe King just after the monarch had entered the rotunda. “You have some beautiful paintings

here,” the King was quoted as saying, . as he surveyed the canvasses which ' depict early American history. “Yes,” Pittman said he replied, “they are all famous works of art.” ] “I see they deal with the early history . of your country,” the King continued. . “Yes,” Pittman said. “Here is a picture of lhe baptism of Pocahontas at ' your left.” The King glanced at lhe canvas, . showing the baptismal scene, in 1613. ; He let his eye travel around the J rotunda walls, taking in the paintings ' which de;tel. the surrender of the ! English General Burgoyne at Saratoga in 1777, and the surrender of General Cornwallis at Yorktown, in 1781. Turning to Senator Pittman, the King remarked, with a twinkle in his eye: “Oh, yes, I see there are some of a later period, too.” Both lhe King and hi.s consort made a hit with the crew of the United States destroyer Warrington. “The Queen —she’s just like a doll,” declared Edward S. White, chief machinist mate, and as for His Majesty, “He's a real regular guy.” That was typical. of the gobs’ and petty officers’ comments. A mad scramble to walk on the red plush carpet where King George and Queen Elizabeth had passed en route ; to their outomobile marked the aftermath of lhe Royal reception at. the 1 Battery in New York. “Goodness, I never thought I would be walking on the same carpet as tho King and Queen walked on!” one woman Another woman, beaming ecstatically, got down on her hands and knees and kissed the carpel. Little girls capered, giggled and pranced, with gestures imitating lhe Queen's hand wave of greeting. Pier attendants quickly routed the several hundred men. women and children in the I rush. They rolled up the rug and took if, away. I Police Commissioner Lewis Vai online estimated that 3,000,000 persons had seen lhe entourage of the King and Queen in lhe procession from the Battery to the New York World's Fair. \ if c-pres.idcnt Makes Hit King George VI thinks Vice-Presi-dent Garner one of the most interesting men he met during his crowded 36 hours in Washington, and tho Texan thinks His Brittanic Majesty George VI is a “mighty fine feller.” 1 When the Vice-President wished the King good-bye he put an arm around the Royal shoulders and told him how : much he had enjoyed their talks. Next to President and Mrs. Roosevelt. King George probably talked to Garner more than anybody in Washington. At the White House party the Texan's eyes twinkled under their shaggy : brows as he aimed a little joke at “the boss”—*as he called President Roose- 1 velt. ‘“Why, I believe you have a more J democratic system of government ; over there than we have here,” he was quoted as having told the King. “The sovereign is a symbol, and when you have a vote of confidence in your legislative body if it goes I against the Prime Minister he resigns ' and has to have a general election. But over here he hangs on.” The President and King George joined in the laughter. As for Queen Elizabeth, 1 Mr. Garner thinks she is a “beautiful little lady.” “You know she comes'

from Scotland, where they have mighty line people, mighty fine.” Representative Fulmer, Democrat of Souts Carolina, became convinced at the Capitol reception that the King and Queen came to America primarily on a goodwill tour when he said: “I had my doubts and wanted to find out. So when I shook hands with the Queen, I squeezed her hand gently. In return she squeezed mine gently and smiled, and now I’m convinced it was a goodwill tour.”