BELGIUM: State Visit

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"Give humanity, especially the Far Eastern countries, not words, but proofs that the Western countries have, above their more immediate problems of material nature, a spiritual force emanating from the spirit of brotherhood. . . . Neither lowering of customs barriers, nor any other partial measure would put an end to the disorders which threaten peace. If we are really to avoid war and bring back humanity to more peaceful sentiments, we must have the courage to face economic questions in their broadest aspect and find a solution for such great problems threatening peace as these:

1) the distribution of raw materials; 2) apportionment of the elements of monetary exchange; 3) distribution of employment; 4) establishing an equilibrium between agricultural and industrial nations. . . ."

"Waterlily" and "Horace/' Thus far the British have given Belgium's Leopold only words of praise in their press, not proofs in the acts of their Government that they approve His Majesty's project for a realistic international grappling with the problems which breed war. This week his state visit to London can be, depending on the British Cabinet, either more or less just another Old World pageant.

At Buckingham Palace last week the news was given out that King George and the Duke of Gloucester will meet King Leopold at Victoria Station and that the names of the six Windsor greys which will draw the 7,000-lb. state landau are "Lorenzo," "Lilian," "Arum," "Angela," "Shale-Fox" and "Waterlily."

Next day the lead bays of the royal landau will be "Wolsely" and "Horace."

On arrival at Buckingham Palace, where King Leopold will occupy what is known at all times as "The Belgian Suite," he will have tea with King George and Queen Elizabeth, and their two little daughters will be brought in to drop curtsies. At 8:30 p. m. arrive 400 guests to eat the state banquet with Their Majesties.

Next morning King George is not to be present when King Leopold receives the diplomatic corps at Buckingham Palace. At high noon the King of the Belgians goes to lunch with the Lord Mayor of London and its biggest wigs at the Guildhall. In the afternoon Leopold III starts his conferences with British statesmen and at the Belgian Embassy that evening His Majesty is host to King George and Queen Elizabeth and 40 ultra-select guests, nearly all men, but slated to include Mrs. Neville Chamberlain and Mrs. Anthony Eden. After dinner Their Majesties drive to Buckingham Palace for the state ball of 1,200, with music by the Royal Artillery Band which swank Londoners (even courtiers) call "lousy."

Since King Leopold is the Honorary Colonel-in-Chief of the British Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards, His Majesty goes next day to visit them at Colchester, later inspecting at London the Belgian-financed Leather Cloth Co. and the fine clinic of the Finbury Dispensary, a British charity notable for its Belgian support. Finally this week, British Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden is to stand at the foot of the Foreign Office stairs, welcoming Kings George & Leopold and 80 guests to a Foreign Office dinner "in the name of His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland"—after which Leopold III returns to Brussels.