Evening star., 1951-03-31
Aurio|'s S Plans Today
Include Reception,
Speech and Concert
By jones 6. Deone

|
By james 6. Deone
Frances President Auriol facee
the busiest schedule of his Wash.
lington visit today. after weather.
ing a rainstorm yesterday tt
honor the United States Nava,
Academy.
These items were on today's
list:
This morning, th-laying al
George Washington's tomb al
Mount Vernon and the Tomb o1
the Unknown Soldier.
At noon, a speech before the
Foreign Ministers Conference at
the Pan American Union.
At 5 pm, a reception for the
French colony at the French En-
bassy, and at $3.50 O'Clock tonight
la special concert in the visiting
Presidents honor in Constitution
Hall. President Truman also will
ATTEND.
The 66-year-old statesman and
veteran of the wartime Resistance
lproved he could take it yester-
day, when he went on undaunted
Through a parade-ground speech
despite a downpour that sent
some spectators scurrying.
Pins Decorations on Flag.
Mr.. Auriol. with the entire bri-
gade Of $500 midshipmen looking
on, had just pinned two OF
Frances highest decorations-the
Cross of the Legion of Honor and
the Croix de Guerre-on the acad-
emy's flag when the rain began.
1t fell gently at first. But about
midway in the speech it turned
suddenly into a minor cloudburst
The stocky, rotund little Presi-
dent went right on with his
speech, however, with the rain
drops splashing on his bald head
and drenching his manuscript. He
spoke in French.
Afterward, some one handed
him a midget-size umbrella, and
he gave the spectators a laugh by
grabbing Vice Admiral Harry w
Hill, academy superintendent, by
the arm and forcing him to share
the partial covering back to the
canopied reviewing stand.
Then Mr.. Auriol and grand
stand-full of onlookers were
treated to the Middies' first parade
in full-dress blue uniforms since
before World War II. The rain
ended just before the last of the
Ibrass-buttoned, white-belted fu-
ture admirals strutted past.
Salute by Fl Guns.
A 21-gun salute and Marine
honor guard greeted the President
and his wife on their arrival at
I11:30 am, and the first hour of
their five-hour visit was devoted
to a conducted tour, which in
cluded the chapel, dormitory
rooms, ordnance equipment in
Ward Hall and the armory with
its two installations of movable
I5-inch gun batteries.
The distinguished visitor
showed particular. interest in the
huge mess hall. Mr.. Auriol studi-
ously examined a menu. Nine
Auriol laughed incredulously when
a dish she dropped on the floor
at an officers suggestion-failed
to break. ct was plastic) She
also sat down in one of the alum
mum chairs.
Then the party stationed itself
on the Bancroft Hall steps to
watch the noon formation of mid
shipmen. and the President ten
dered them a French-style salute
as they marched snappily by on
their way to lunch. Mr.. Auriol
also chatted briefly with the mid
shipman brigade commander, 21-
|year-old William Porter Lawrence
of Nashville. Tenn.
Hill Host at Luncheon.
Admiral Hill entertained the
visitors in his quarters for lunch
and a reception following.
Gov. McKeldin of Maryland and
other high State officials came to
meet Mr.. Auriol and watch the
afternoon ceremonies. French
Foreign Minister Robert Schu-
man and Ambassador Bonnet also
were there.
A group of President Auriol's
countrymen-126 blue-uniformec
Naval cadets from the training
cruiser Jeanne d'Arc-stood al
attention at both sides of the
academy colors during the pre-.
sentation of the medals. The
French cadets also watched the
review from the grandstand, af-
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