FROM LONDON.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 86, 12 April 1941, Page 8

FROM LONDON.

SPECIAL ENVOY.

FREE FRENCH PARTY.

ARRIVAL IN AUCKLAND.

Dii-tinffuishcd overseas visitors who

were welcomed to Auckland to-day on

behalf of the citizens by the Mayor, Sir Ernest Davis, were his Excellency Monsieur R. R. Brumont. for the past 'M years a diplomatic officer in French West Africa, and his aide-de-camp, Captain Jj. L. Datoux. who have arrived from Britain on a diplomatic mission to the British and French Governments in the Pacific.

His Excellency went to French Wcet Africa :>(> years ago as Commissioner, and successively occupied the offices of High Commissioner, Governor and Gov-ernor-General of tiie province. He went to London when war broke out and joined the staff of General Gaulle, on whose behalf lie is undertaking his present mission as a result of conversations between ihe British. Australian and New Zealand and Free French Governments. His mission will involve visits to Tahiti, Noumea and the New Hebrides, in addition to pourparlers with leading Xew Zealand and Australian officials. From his own observation in Britain of the results of the blitzkrieg there, his Excellency informed a "Star" representative to-day that he had formed the definite view that England is assured of victorv.

Captain 1,. 1,. Datoux. a captain in the Engineers, won the Cross do fiuerre in the last battle of France, and escapcd to England in September Inst. He is accompanying his Excellency as aide-de-camp and economic adviser.

These distinguished visitors were the guests of Sir Ernest Davis at the Ellcrslie races to-day. and their national uniforms attracted n deal of attention.