BEST OF SPIRITS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 219, 16 September 1938, Page 9

BEST OF SPIRITS.

SCENE AT HESTON. Premier Not Nervous on First Air Journey. "GOOD LUCK" AND CHEERS. Cnited Press Association.—Copyright. (Received l p. m .) LONDON. Septemher 15. Waiting at Heston aerodrome for the departure of Mr. Chamberlain for Germany were (he Foreign Seeretarv \ w«mnt Halifax, the German Charge Dr. K. K.,rdt, and the First Secretary at the German Kmbassy, Baron von Sel. Others included Lady Halifax, the deputv Foreign Under-Secretary, Sir Alexander Cadogan, and Lord Brocket, the last-named newly-arrived from .Nuremberg.

At 6!) Mr. Chamberlain made his first flight and set off on his journey look infitter and m,, r e light-hearted 'than for weeks. Mr. Chamberlain was in the best of ■ spirit*. He chatted cordially with the Germans. Suddenly the Marquess of Londonderry arrived and handed a slip of paper to Mr. Chamberlain, who was obviously amused. It was a perfect morning, perhaps it « a pood omen." said Lord Halifax, who had a brief conversation with Mr. Chamberlam before the Prime Minister entered the aeroplane. Just then a small group behind the barrier chanted \ iva Czechoslovakia!" Gleaming s jj vf>r in ihp ~r i]lian(. „,,„. Mime the Lockheed Elect™ nine-seater aeroplane, with a speed of 22.', miles an hour, piloted by Commanders C N lelly and I). S. King, took off perfectly It scintillated like a diamond as it flew eastward accompanied by shouts of* "Good luck" and "Well done." An indication of the intense public i interest was that the whole approach to the airport contained an unbroken avenue of private motor cars. Mr. Chamberlain did not see the who arrived at Kil*t«m at 7.48 a.m. Speaking into a microphone hefore embarking in the aeroplane, the Prime | Minister said: "[ am going to meet the Chancellor of Germany because the situation seems to be' one in which personal conversations might have useful consequences. My policy always has been to try to ensure peace. "The Fuehrer's ready acceptance of my suggestion encourages me to hope that my visit will not be without result."

The crowd loudly cheered thin statement. Dr. Kordt expressed good wishes and God speed and offered his congratulations to Mr. Chamberlain for his magnanimous initiative. The Prime Minister was not nervous on his first flight. He sat beside Sir Horace Wilson. British Industrial Adviser, at a long window giving a clear view of the countryside. A telegram from Munich states that Mr. Chamberlain duly arrived. He appeared to have enjoyed his first flight and alighted in very cheerful mood. Herr von Rihl>entrop inquired if he had had a good trip and Mr. Chamberlain replied: "Very good." Others who welcomed Mr. Chamberlain were the German Ambassador to London, Herr von Dirksen, and a Foreign Office expert, Herr Weizaeeker. EFFECT OF VISIT. Complete Solution Thought Unlikely. NEW NEGOTIATIONS PROBABLE (Received 11.30 a.m.) RUGBY, September 15. The immediate effect of the news of Mr. Chamberlain's visit to Herr Hitler has been to relieve the tension. It can be stated that .Mr. Chamberlain went to Germany without taking any preconceived plan and without having reached any definite conclusion as to the best possible solution of the problem in Czechoslovakia. "The Times" says: "No doubt he had his ideas, which he frankly unfolded to Herr Hitler, and no doubt the journey would not be undertaken unless there seemed to him to be at least a reasonable prospect of an agreement in principle, but the visit will be, first and foremost, the occasion of a full and frank conversation, the outcome of which is less likely to be a complete solution than a renewal of the interrupted negotiations.

"It follows that nobody now need despairingly conclude that the impasse in negotiations in Prague is final. Whether or not they may be taken up between Berlin and other European capitals it is obviously too early to sav, but it certainly seems probable that the head of the German Government, who hitherto appeared as an impalpable, but all important figure, in the background will take his proper place as one of the principals. Nor does it seem likely that the valuable service of Viscount Runciman will not be invoked again." The whole of the British Press recognises that the weight of responsibility that rests on Mr. Chamberlain is matched by the scope of the opportunity. GOVERNMENT ADVICE. # ——— IRON AND STEEL WORKERS. (Received 2.30 p.m.) LOKDOX, September 15. Some 250 metallurgists have cancelled their plans to attend the Institute of Metals meeting in New York on October 3 as the result of Government advice that it is undesirable that the keymen of the iron and steel industry should • leave England.

[By special arrangement Reuters World Service, in addition to other special sources of information, is used in the compilation of the overseas Intelligence published in this Issue, and all right! therein to Australia and INew Zealand are reserved. Surn or tbe cable news on this page as Is so headed has appeared in "Tne Times" and Is lent to this paper by special permission. It should be understood that tne opinions are aot ttae of "Tit* XUnt*"