PARIS MATCH

Magazine Overview

Title: PARIS MATCH
Issue: N° 529
Date: Saturday, May 30, 1959
Price: 70 F.
Country: France

This issue of Paris Match features a prominent cover story about Mother's Day, with a heartwarming photograph of a mother, Odile Versois, with her three children, Charles-André, Alexandre, and Barbara, presenting her with flowers and gifts. The main headline on the cover, however, focuses on economics: "Raymond Cartier: America plays a winning hand with the heavy franc of Pinay."

Inquiétude en Hollande : après la guérisseuse voici le fou de Vénus accueilli par la reine

The magazine delves into a curious event in the Netherlands, where Queen Juliana has received George Adamski, a self-proclaimed "philosopher and space traveler." The article, titled "Inquiétude en Hollande: après la guérisseuse voici le fou de Vénus accueilli par la reine" (Anxiety in Holland: after the healer, here comes the madman of Venus welcomed by the queen), details Adamski's meeting with the Dutch royal family at Soesdjik.

Adamski, a 68-year-old American, claims to be the only man to have traveled in a flying saucer and to know Venus intimately. He was invited to a conference with the Queen, Prince Bernard, and a panel of experts, including Professor Roij, General Schaper, Dr. Jongbloed, and Mr. Kolff. Adamski, dressed in a tweed suit and with a thin tie, presented himself as a philosopher and space traveler, stating he makes a living from his books and lectures, and owns a snack bar near the Palomar Observatory.

During the interrogation, Adamski recounted his experiences, including seeing a flying saucer land on November 20, 1952, and meeting a blond Venusian. He described the saucers as having magnetic envelopes that cancel each other out, allowing for free movement. He also claimed to have healed sick Venusians, advising them against travel. When pressed about his knowledge of the Moon, he stated that humans were manufacturing their own atmosphere in large factories on the other side.

The article highlights the contrast between Adamski's mystical pronouncements and the pragmatic approach of Prince Bernard, who is described as being immune to the "picturesque" nature of the visitor and acting as the "prosecutor of reason." Queen Juliana, however, is portrayed as being more receptive, having read Adamski's book "Flying Saucers Have Landed" with passion.

The meeting with Adamski is framed against the backdrop of a previous scandal involving Greet Hofmans, a healer who had exerted a "harmful influence" on the Queen, causing marital discord with Prince Bernard. The royal family had eventually managed to distance themselves from Hofmans, and the current situation with Adamski raises concerns about a potential repeat of such "esotericism" influencing the Queen.

Adamski's narrative includes his personal history, from immigrating from Poland to America at nine, serving in the cavalry, and losing his wife in an accident. He describes his first encounter with a flying saucer near Palomar Observatory and his subsequent conversations with Venusians, who he claims have a deeper understanding and are not materialistic like Earthlings.

Other Articles

Beyond the main feature on Adamski, the issue touches upon the economic situation with the headline about America and the French franc. There is also a mention of "L'écriture d'une autre planète" (The writing of another planet), referring to a strange document that experts are trying to decipher, believed to be a technical schematic related to a flying saucer.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine appears to cover a mix of current events, human interest stories, and more speculative topics like UFOs and extraterrestrial contact. The editorial stance, particularly through the portrayal of Prince Bernard's skepticism, suggests a cautious approach to extraordinary claims, while still giving space to explore them. The inclusion of the Greet Hofmans affair indicates a recurring interest in the intersection of royalty, personal beliefs, and public scrutiny.

Themes: UFOs, Space Travel, Royalty, Esotericism, Economics, Mother's Day.

Tags: George Adamski, UFO, Flying Saucer, Venus, Queen Juliana, Prince Bernard, Netherlands, Space Travel, Theosophy, Extraterrestrial, Royal Family, Astronomy, Mystery, 1959, French Franc, Mother's Day.