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isolationist America President Roosevelt visits of European royalty
President Roosevelt: Visits by European Royalty (1939)
Figure 1.--This press photo shows a sailor deployed in front of the Capitol for the visit by King George Vi and Queen Elizabeth on June 8, 1939. The heading read, "A little boy, two flags, and a sailor greet soverign". The caption read, "This little fellow with two flags--one of the United States; and the other the Union Jack -- has his own private seat; as he awaits the arrival of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth of England. The youngster and his big sailor were pictured before one of the Capitol buildings." Actually the flag is not the Union Jack, but looks to be the Canadian flag.
The Roosevelt Administration attempted to support the countries facing the NAZIs within the narrow limits created by the Neutrality Acts. One step taken by the Administration was to encourage visits by European royalty. The most important was a vist by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. An occassion for the visit was provided by the 1939 New York World Fair. The visit created a public relations sensation and was closely followed by the press. A factor of course was the sensation abdication of King George's brother Edward VIII and marriage to an American divorcee. The British were concerned that the popularity of the former King would unfavorably affect attitudes toward Britain. The attractive young royal couple enchanted many Americans. Extensive newsreel coverage showed President Roosevelt and King George together. The visits included informal events at Hyde Park to show the depth of the relationship. President Roosevelt drove the royals to the Hyde Park train station. The president from the car waved, and in a loud voice for all to hear "Good luck to you! All the luck in the World." It was clear where the President stood as Europe moved inexorably toward war. The British royals were not the only ones invited. The Administration also invited Scandinavian royals. The Norwegian royals visited in April 1939. Even King Boris of Bulgaria was invited. The visits were ceremonial, but Roosevelt and the European royals hoped that they would generate sympathies for the countries involved. [Freidel, pp. 316-317.]
Britain
The most important of the royal visits was the one by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. An occassion for the visit was provided by the 1939 New York World Fair. The visit created a public relations sensation and was closely followed by the press. A factor of course was the sensation abdication of King George's brother Edward VIII and marriage to an American divorcee. The British were concerned that the popularity of the former King would unfavorably affect attitudes toward Britain. The attractive young royal couple enchanted many Americans. Extensive newsreel coverage showed President Roosevelt and King George together. The visits included informal events at Hyde Park to show the depth of the relationship. President Roosevelt drove the royals to the Hyde Park train station. The president from the car waved, and in a loud voice for all to hear "Good luck to you! All the luck in the World." It was clear where the President stood as Europe moved inexorably toward war.
Previous American initiatives
President Roosevelt had tried to establish a relationship with Prime-Miniter Chamberlain earlier as Hutler raised tensions in Europe. These initintives were rejected. The Prime-Minister was sure he had the skills and understanding to preserve the peace of Europe.
British monarchy
The most important royal visit was a vist by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. The British royal family was the best known and most illustrious royal family in Europe since the Napoleonic Wars. And under Victoria and Albert the royal family had become a force for moderation and reform. Many European royal families had lost their crowns in the aftermath of World War I. The British royal family was the most prestigious royal family that survived the War. The escapades of the royal family were closely followed in the American media. In fact the America media printed stories that the British media were no allowed to print, such as the developing relationship between the Prince of Wales and Mrs. Simpson.
A factor of course was the sensational abdication of King George's brother Edward VIII and marriage to an American divorcee--Walace Simpson. Edward had been very popular in America. The abdication crisis had captivated American audiences. Because of press restrictions in Britain, the American public knew about Edward and Wallace Simpson before the British public. Americans like the British has listened intently to the King's radio address in which he announced his abdication (1936) They were both very popular in America. The British were concerned that the popularity of the former King would unfavorably affect American attitudes toward Britain. The new monarchs, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth were largely unknown and many Americans believed that Edward now the Duke of Windsor had been treated unfairly.
Royal Visited Arranged
The British Government as Europe moved toward war realised that the Dominions wpuld be vital in the coming second confrontation with Germany. There was alo concern about the impact of the Abdication Crisis. The handsome, youthful Edward VIII had been very popular. Canadian Prime-minister King mentioned to President Roosevelt that King George VI was contemplating an official visit to Canada (August 1938). King George VI was considering a state visit to Canada. President Roosevelt immediately realized the public relations potential. He wanted in particular to improve public opinion toward the British. While infatuated with the British, there was still some lingering anti-British feeling. This was most pronounced among Irish-Americans. Many isolatonists also felt that Britain had dragged America into World War I and were determined to prevent this if war broke out again in Europe. Some historians suggest that the President was also drawn by the pomp and ceremony and the prestige of the monarchy.
American Public Opinion
At the time Americans held a wide range of opinions toward the British. Much of the upper-class and affluent in America were of British origins. This included a substantial share of the academic community. This sector were generally pro-British. There was, however, still a lingering anti-British, anti-royalist, and ant-colonial sentiment from the 19th century. This can be seen, for example, in Little Lord Fauntleroy (1885). The post-War reaction to World War I also impaired attitudes toward Britain. Isolations Senator Nye conducted hearings concerning the war which helped to build the attitude that entering the war was a great mistake. The unpaid war debt also became an issue. Many Americans came to believe that the British dragged America into the War. There were other complications. The very substantial Irish-American population was strongly anti-British and the British repression after the Easter Rebellion (1916) as well as the brutality of the Black and Tans (early 1920s) had opened old wounds. Another problem was the fact that the two Axis countries (Germany and Italy) both had substantial ethnic communities in America.
Planning
An occassion for the Royal visit was provided by the 1939 New York World Fair. President Roosevelt personally prepared the itinerary for the royal couple. The plans were sent it through Ambassador Bullitin Paris rather than through the London Embassy. This was one of many slights which rankled Ambassador Kennedy.
The Visit (June 8-11)
The Royals entered the United States from Canada (June 8). They were met by Secretary Hull at Niagra Falls and took the train to Washington. President Roosevelt met them at Union Station (June 9). He escorted them to the British Embassy. The Royals then hosted a Garden Party at the Embassy. The President and First Lady hostted a state dinner at the White House. Kate Smith, Marion Andeson, and Lawrence Tidbitt provided the entertainment. The next day they sailed down the Potomoc to Mt. Vernon on the presidential yacht Sequoia (June 10). The King laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington Cemetary. They then traveled by train to New York to briefly visit the World's Fair. After which they were driven to Hyde Park. They encountered enthusiastic crowds along the way which slowed the trip. They had an informal dinner at Springwood, King and Pres stay up late discussing the world situation. President Roosevelt though war was inevitable. The King thought that there was still a chance it could be prevented. The next day the Oresudent and Mrs. Roosevelt attended church at St. James Chapel at Hyde Park (June 11). Then there was a picnic at Top Cottage. President Roosevelt drove the Royal couple arounf the Hyde Park area, with his cigarette holder, and pointing out senic sites. Queen Elizabeth would later claim that he was not looking at the froad and that it was a more frightening experience than the Blitz. In the evening President Roosevelt drove them to the Hyde Park railway station. The crowds sang Auld Lang Syne. The president from the car waved, and in a loud voice for all to hear "Good luck to you! All the luck in the World." [Bradford, p, 393.]
They of course needed it. And not much would be coming. Britain was soon engulfhed by war. It was clear where the President stood as Europe moved inexorably toward war.
Results
The royal couple were young, attractive, and gracious. They made a very favorable impression. In fact, the visit created a public relations sensation and was intensively followed by the press. The attractive young royal couple enchanted many Americans. Extensive newsree coverage showed President Roosevelt and King George together. The informal events at Hyde Park showed the depth of the relationship. The visit was covered in some detail by the American and British media. [Bell] The visit is commonly mentioned in passing by historians. Its importance is primarily the fact that it was the first step in forgeing the greatest and most effective militry alliance in history.
Norway
The British royals were not the only ones invited by the President. The Administration also invited Scandinavian royals. The Norwegian royals visited in April 1939. Crown Prince Olav and Princess Martha visited the upper-Midwest where many Norwegian and Swedish immigrants settled. (Princess Martha was the daughter of Prince Carl of Sweden.) They met with President Roosevelt and Mrs. Roosevelt and became friendly with them. German invaded and occupied Norway (April 1940). Princess Martha and her three children sought refuge in Sweden. Despite being her native country, she was not well received there, Swedes at the time were concerned about a possible German invasion and were concerned that Princess Marth's presence threatened their neutrality. There were even suggestions that she should take 3-year old Harald back to Norway and let the Germans proclain him king. President Roosevelt offered her and the children sanctuary. She imbarked on the USS American Legion at the Finnish port of Petsamo. They moved into the White House to live at first with the Roosevelts. She worked with the Red Cross. She charmed the President who enjoyed the company of women. She is reported to hae inspired the President's "Look to Norway" speech (1942). At that time a naval vessel was turned over to the Royal Norwegian Navy. After the war she received a hero's welcome when she returned to liberated Norway. Newspapers proclaimed her "mother of the nation".
Bulgaria
Even King Boris of Bulgaria was invited.
Sources
Bell, Peter. "The Foreign Office and the 1939 Royal Visit to America: Courting the USA in an Era of Isolationism," Journal of Contemporary History Vol. 37, No. 4 (October, 2002), pp. 599-616.
Black, Conrad. Franklin Roosevelt: Champion of Freedom (Public Affairs: New York, 2003), 1280p.
Bradford, Sarah. The Reluctant King: The Life and Reign of George VI:
1896-1952 (New York: St Martin's Press, 1990).
Freidel, Frank. Franklin D. Roosevelt: A Rendezvous with Destiny (Little Brown: Boston, 1990), 710p
Reynolds, David. "FDR's Foreign policy and the British royal visitto the USA, 1939," Historian, Vol. 45 (1983), pp. 461-72.
