1.
GV.PAN...FROM.ROAD TO...MEADOW
0.05

2.
GV.ACROSS MEADOW
0.10

3.
GV.OLD PRINT, SHOWING THE SIGNING OF THE MAGNA CARTA
0.14

4.
CU.PAN FROM...BARON TO...KING JOHN
0.24

5.
GV.DITTO
0.28

6.
GV & SV.PAN...MAGNA CARTA DOCUMENT (2 SHOTS)
0.38

7.
CU.DOCUMENT
0.42

8.
GV.PAN FROM...MEMORIAL SIGNBOARD TO...AMERICAN MEMORIAL
0.52

9.
GV.MEMORIAL
0.55

10.
LV.MEMORIAL
0.58

11.
GV.VISITORS THROUGH GATE
1.04

12.
WALKING SHOT. UP STEPS TO... KENNEDY MEMORIAL
1.12

13.
GV & SCU.KENNEDY MEMORIAL
1.19

14.
CU.FLORAL TRIBUTES
1.21

15.
GV.RIVER THAMES AT RUNNYMEDE
1.24

16.
GV.PASTORAL SCENE
1.28



Initials RM/V/MGT/JG


EDITORS: PROD NO 4550/65 (SOF) "OK": RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL TO PRESIDENT KENNEDY UNVEILED -- QUEEN PAYS TRIBUTE "SERV" 14/5/65 ALSO REFERS.

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE 750TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SIGNING OF THE MAGNA CARTA BY KING JOHN OF ENGLAND WILL BE CELEBRATED ON THE 15TH OF THIS MONTH. THE HISTORIC DOCUMENT, REGARDED AS THE FOUNDATION OF THE FREEDOM OF THE BRITISH PEOPLE, WAS SIGNED AT THE MEADOW OF RUNNYMEDE, NEAR LONDON, WHERE AN ACRE OF LAND WAS DEDICATED LAST MONTH TO THE MEMORY OF PRESIDENT KENNEDY OF THE UNITED STATES.

PRESSURE BROUGHT BY THE ENGLISH BARONS CAUSED KING JOHN TO AFFIX HIS GREAT SEAL TO A CHARTER OF LAW AND LIBERTIES, CALLED THE MAGNA CARTA, SIGNED UNWILLINGLY BY THE KING, GRANTED "THE RIGHT OF EVERY MAN TO BE IN PRACTICE SECURE OF WHAT THE LAW PROMISED HIM ON THEORY."
THE KING, WHO HAD ENJOYED A DESPOTIC RULE PLUNDERING HIS SUBJECTS AT WILL, AFFIXED HIS SEAL AT RUNNYMEDE BEFORE AN ASSEMBLY OF 25 OF THE GREAT FEUDAL BARONS. THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT NO LONGER EXISTS, AND THE EARLIEST COPY NOW LIES IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM ON LONDON.

WHEN BRITAIN WANTED TO HONOUR THE MEMORY OF PRESIDENT KENNEDY RECENTLY IT DEDICATED AN ACRE OF LAND AT RUNNYMEDE TO HIS MEMORY -- SINCE THIS WAS THE PLACE THAT ENGLISHMEN WON THEIR "BILL OF RIGHTS". A MEMORIAL WAS SET ON A HILLSIDE, AND DEDICATED ON THE 14TH OF MAY BY QUEEN ELIZABETH IN THE PRESENCE OF MRS. JACQUELINE KENNEDY, THE WIDOW OF THE ASSASSINATED PRESIDENT, AND HER CHILDREN.

THE MEMORIAL STONE IS A SEVEN-TON PIECE OF GRANITE 70,000,000,000 YEARS OLD FROM THE SAME PORTLAND QUARRIES WHICH PROVIDED THE MATERIALS FOR SOME OF BRITAIN'S MOST FAMOUS OLD BUILDINGS.

(ON THE 10TH OF JUNE, THE 700-YEAR-OLD COPY OF THE MAGNA CARTA WILL BE CARRIED IN PROCESSION TO ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL, IN LONDON, FOR A SERVICE ATTENDED BY THE QUEEN. ON THE 15TH, IT WILL BE THE SHOWPIECE IN A CEREMONY AT THE GREAT HALL OF THE ROYAL COURTS OF JUSTICE.)