AUSTEN—WITH AN E.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 268, 12 November 1928, Page 16

AUSTEN—WITH AN E.

CHAMBERLAIN IN AMERICA.

BOMBARDED by pressmen.

HIS ONE REQUEST

(From Our Own Corresn,-dent.)

SAN FRANCISCO, October 3,

Despite the rigorous efforts put forth to prevent the intrusion of newspapermen while lie was to recuperate his shattered health, the irrepressible Yankee scribes penetrated the quietude of Sir Austen Chamberlain when Britain's Foreign Secretaryarrived at San Pedro, near Ijos Angeles, for his long-looked-for rest in California. "Not a word of politics. I determined when I left not to talk politics, and so far I have succeeded in keeping that resolution." It was Sir Austen who. smiling, firmly laid down that dictum on the deck of Captain Robert Dollar's steamship President Adams, as she lay at anchor off the Los Angeles harbour breakwater, just arrived from the Panama. A brigade of reporters and cameramen, who made the frontal attack, were met by Captain Morris, a sailor man with a fine smile, but a very determined eye. "Sorry, fellows," said lie, "but Sir Austen has asked me to protect him from you gentlemen, and you'll not be able to see him."

It seemed final, but one reporter J»ad an inspiration to ask to see tlio Scotland Yard man who was with the party. He was very amiable, and dashed off to see Sir Austen about it. and naturally the reporters kept close in liis wake, and saw a tall, distinguished man sitting on a hatch and wearing a monocle. That was all. Captain Morris and the Scotland Yard official looked a bit perturbed, as Sir Austen, like the high-bred gentleman he is, rose and greeted America's delegation of newspapermen and photographers with what quoted above. Questions of all sorts were fired at him, but never did the smile of negation waver, and while he talked he adroitly said nothing. In a word, the U.S. Pressmen were for once flabbergasted. "How about the Anglo-French naval pact?" Sir Austen?" "Haven't a word to say," he answered, and his eyes twinkled. "We haven't heard anything about it," said Lady Chamberlain. At that the reporters hopefully turned to her.

Knight Warns Lafly. "You haven't heard anything about itt Why, it has raised a lot of trouble. The United States Government has sent a rather firm note to Downing Street in regard to it." "We haven't heard anything about it," repeated Lady Chamberlain, while Sir Austen warningly put his hand on her arm, which was significantly noticed by her ladyship. •"Won't you say a word about world peace and unity of action to that end?" piped up another news man. "I'll tell you," said Sir Austen, "I haven't had a holiday for a great many years, and I feel 31 and determined to have a holiday. Now, one can't have a holiday and talk polities. And then you've a lot of politics of your own just now. No, I shall keep to my resolution and enjoy the outing." "But you represent the British Empire as Foreign Secretary, and in a way you are the guest of the United States, don't you think a few words—." "No, really, I cannot talk about such things." Meanwhile another reporter had asked Captain Morris, "Where is the wheel chair that late stories said Sir Austen had to use?" "No wheel chair; he's in excellent condition." "Voyage has done you good," said the reporter to the visitor. "It has been a splendid trip. I'm feeling as good as ever; going to San Francisco and then home by way of Vancouver and Banff." And here the captain tried to shoo! the newspapermen away. But he didn't know the irrepressible cameramen. "We'd like to take a picture of you and your party," they said, and Sir Austen gathered his people and they stood and listened to the shutters click for quite a time. "I'd like to ask a favour of you all,"

said the distinguished statesman, as the last negative was used. "If you do write anything about me, will you kindly Bpell my name Austen with an Et"

The next day Sir Austen Chamberlain became a California "playboy." "This is splendid, the happiest part of my holiday," he declared emphatically as he strolled about Pickfair. "It is the first holiday I have had for many years. The sunshine is wonderful. I feel well already. It has been thirty years since I was last in the States and I never before have been on the Pacific Coast."

The distinguished figure was the first one up at Pickfair that morning. He strolled about the verdant, rolling hills of Pickfair. A short time later Lady Chamberlain came out of the house. She wore a tan-colourcd frock, wide stn\\v hat and carried a parasol. She smiled pleasantly at the waitiug newspapermen and greeted Sir Austen. He bent to take her hand and kissed it. Asked what she thought about American worsen—one of the stock queries hurled at visiting luminaries —Lady Chamberlain said: "They are charming. I have met many of them while at home and aboard ship, but this is my first glimpse of them on their native soil."

She said she thought Miss Pickford was "lovely." Later the Chamberlain party went to the Fairbanks' studio with Fairbanks and Miss Pickford. Here Fairbanks showed Sir Austen tricks with an Australian bull whip and leaped through a large pane of window glass without injuring himself. The visitors had luncheon at the Fairbanks' studio, and wero greatly interested in the enormous technique of the manufacture of cinema pictures. Subsequently the Chamberlain. party re-embarked and arrived at San Francisco where they stayed ten days as the guest of William H. Crocker, the millionaire banker, at his magnificent at Burlingame, some 18 miles «out-h of San Francisco. This home and its spacious grounds form one of the show places of America. Extraordinary precautions were taken t-. insure the privacy which Sir Austen so dearlv craved in order to assist in completing his recuperation. He was welcomed to San Francisco by

Mr. C'vril Cane, the genial British vice-

Consul, and every effort was made to keep the newspapermen at bay, but, as uMial, they overcame all stumblingblocks and reached Sir Austen, who, however, maintained a dignified silence on world affairs and British politics in particular.