Evening star., 1939-06-10

IN the tense days of war, when the
famous Marshal Joffre came to
washington and when the ceiebri-
ties from abroad were greeted bv
street demonstrations, there was no
such warmth and no such deep
seated enthusiasm as have greeted
the King and Queen of England.
Something in the manner of their
malestleS, something in the era-
clouSneSS OF their voices, their refine
ment and their polse, caught the
hearts of Americas officialdom in
this National Capital where dis
tlnguished personalities are no
novelty at all.
But If the official personnel of
the Government, irrespective of
party or group, radicals and con-
servatlves alike, showed their sincere
admiration for the royal couple.
even more demonStrative were the
people who lined the streets.
Marvel of Careful Planning.
There IS something unexplained
In this manifestation of mterna-
tlonal friendship. Days upon DAYS
the public has read of the approach
ing visit and has seen pictures of
the King and Queen. but the actual
sight OF the two eXponentS of the
British tradition seemed to have
brought its own stimulus.
The whole visit has been a marvel
OF careful arrangement and prep
aratlon. Those who think that
democratic government is uncouth
and doesn't know the quiet ways of
dignifed reception never made a
greater mistake. In every sense
there was occasion for pride in the
splendldly courteous and equally
cordial way in which the President
and Mrs. Roosevelt received their
guests and in the touch of informal
lty with which the visitors accept
ed the American disdain for the
pomp Of official formalitv.
Nor was this sincerity Of friend
ship manifested alone by the Presi-
dent. At the garden party in the
British Embassy grounds. one saw
Vice President Garner greeting the
King and moment later his right
hand placed informally on the
Kings shoulder as the two engaged
in animated conversation. 1t seemed
like a meeting of old friends.
AS for the international effect, it
doubtless will grow when the full
reports reach Europe from the cor
respondents who came along from
London. The fact that the Presi-
dent discussed with the King the
world situation, war and peace and
its implications for us all, was dis
closed in an informal press con-
ference by Mr.. Roosevelt himself. 1t
could not possibly be a formal or
official discussion because the King
cannot speak for the British gov
ernment-onlv the Prime Minister
or foreign secretary can do that.
But what could be of more interest
to the people of Great Britain and
of the various British dominiOns and
colonies than to learn of the pres
ence of this topic on the agenda of
q social visit?
Ideas Exchanged.
Nothing was revealed as to this
conversation except that 1t was an
exchange of ideas, and perhaps
hopes, for peace. such as would be
the case if any two distinguished
representatives of America and
Britain were to meet at dinner any
where in the world.
The Presidents s formal toast was,
of course, carefully thought out
message, designed to aid the cause
of democracy the world over by
drawing attention to the spiritual
union which exists between two
peace-loving peoples. The press of
Germany and Italy may speak de-
risively of these things, indeed the
very attitude of the controlled press
of the dictator countries shows that
any drawing together of America
and Britain is not liked abroad. But
It may be recorded that if a mere
social visit with its far-reaching i'm
plications can persuade the Fascist
states that war embarked upon by
them might conclude in the same
way as it did in 1918, then perhaps
the quiet-mannered man and his
gracious lady did accomplish for
their own people and the peoples of
the world something tangibly worth
while in the cause of peace