Official Approval
Reports that the Queen may visit Germany, either later this year or early in 1964, must meet with universal approval, not because we are doing the Germans a favour, but because of the immense effect it will have as a catalyst of good will in this country towards Britain. It was Charles de Gaulle who first recognised the almost unbelievable public-relations capital to be made out of extending a welcoming hand is person to the West German nation and travelling the country, speaking to massed meetings in their own language. If those who advise the Court had been first with the idea, January 29 in Brussels might have turned out very differently. Our Man in Bonn, Sir Frank Roberts, said last week that there had been 'difficulties on both sides' preventing the Queen returning President Hcuss's State visit of some years ago. It is sometimes difficult to understand why it has taken us so very much longer to put the official State seal of approval on the new Germany than the many other European nations who have far greater cause :o harbour rancour. The Queen's recep- tion in major German cities will make Common- wealth tours look like respectable vicarage tea- parties by comparison.
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