Royal Visit

"A Canadian's first loyalty," said Canada's Governor General, Lord Tweedsmuir, before George VI toured that nation in 1939, "is not to the British Commonwealth of Nations but to Canada and Canada's King." It was a startling declaration to tradition-minded Canadians; the empire-shouting Montreal Gazette indignantly rejected it as "disloyal." But last week, when Prime Minister John Diefenbaker welcomed Elizabeth II for the first visit by a reigning British monarch since 1939, he said: "The Queen of Canada is a term which we like to use because it utterly represents her role on this occasion."

Curtsies & Quips. The Queen of Canada arrived in Ottawa on a brisk, clear afternoon, flown from London in 13 1/2 hours. Smiling, more poised than during her 1951 visit as a princess, she stepped down the ramp, followed by her bareheaded husband Philip (see FOREIGN NEWS). She accepted greetings from Governor General Vincent Massey and Prime Minister Diefenbaker, and a curtsy from Mrs. Diefenbaker. A Plexiglas-topped convertible whisked the royal couple to Rideau Hall, official residence of Governors General, where that night Elizabeth and Philip received 600 newsmen and their wives. To one of his visitors Philip gave a level look and demanded: "Who are you?" "I'm the man whose flashlight bulb exploded near you," gulped the photographer. "I remember you," Philip laughed.

Nearly two decades of maturing experience had produced notable changes in the relations between the monarch and Canada's British subjects of 1939 and its citizens of 1957. Largely gone from official terminology is the word "Dominion." Canada's population is higher by 50%, its wealth multiplied, its international reputation enhanced by years of responsible participation in world affairs.

On to Jamestown. On Sunday, Elizabeth and Philip attended services at Ottawa's old Christ Church Cathedral; there Philip read the Parable of the Talents to an overflowing congregation. This week Elizabeth would open the Canadian Parliament (the first time a reigning monarch had performed this act), then fly to Jamestown, Va. for a ceremony marking the 350th anniversary of the founding of North America's first permanent English-speaking colony. Afterward, with Prime Minister Diefenbaker acting as the Queen's senior adviser, she and Philip would visit President Eisenhower in Washington. Before returning home to London, they also planned a day-long sightseeing tour of New York City. On a Canadian radio-TV hookup, Elizabeth said: "When you hear or read about the events in Washington and other places, I want you to reflect that it is the Queen of Canada and her husband who are concerned in them."

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