MYSTERY TRAVELS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 310, 31 December 1940, Page 4

MYSTERY TRAVELS.

COWARD'S "MISSION." WHAT IS IT ALL ABOUT? LOXDOX, November 15. Xoel Coward, the playwright, actoi and "man on a mystery mission in Paris" during the first stages of the war, has provided the secretary and servants of his house in Gerald Road with a eurprise—a cable from Yokofcr.ma. They knew, of course, that his business in the United States had finished. And they had read a report that he had said he was going to find a peaceful spot until the war was over. But they expected him, nevertheless, to arrive home by way of Lisbon, eaid a "Sunday Express ,, reporter. No Official Backing. H-? is on the way to Australia. I am told he may tour tha whole country and then go on to Xe-.v Zealand. The sudden flare-up in Eastern Europe and Africa has made impossible the fulfilment of his hope to continue his journeyround the world. • Tfoel Coward's journeyings during the war have been the subject of interest to many people. These are the facts so far as I ascertained yesterday:— His business in the United States was private and largely connected with his many theatrical ventures. One of his playe has been on tour in the States. •There have been discussions about the filming of another. Ho has no official Government backing, but is an oW persona! friend of the Minister of Information, Mr. Duff Cooj>er, and carries introductions to people in various important American circles, people he would not otherwise have met. Minister's Invitation. He was ako assured of a sympathetic and quick consideration of any reports he might make on American opinion towards this country. Mr. Coward hae been described by some one in an important position in Whitehall as "the most accurate objective observer thie century has produced." During his stay in Washington Mr. Noel Coward met Mr. R. G. Casey, the Australian Minister there, who invited him to visit his country. Mr. Coward's friends, employees and the British Government have no idea what is the purpose of this visit. Coward wae for a time engaged in an official job in France connected with the British Admiralty. When he left there about the middle of May he obviously intended to return, as meet of his books, some signed photographs, wine and a mackintosh were left in hiis office. He is now paying all his own expenses. He hae royalties in the U.S.A. on which he «an draw, but as his opinions are considered valuable, it is ikely that he would be given easier facilities for taking money out of this country than would be accorded to most people. (A Press Association telegram announcing a postponement ** in Mr. Coward's date of arrival appears on page 6.)