U.S. WORKERS CHEER VISCOUNT HALIFAX

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 180, 1 August 1941, Page 6

U.S. WORKERS CHEER VISCOUNT HALIFAX

SAN FRANCISCO, July 2G. PREAT BRITAIN'S star salesman, dispatched into a vital territory when orders mean survival of his firm, cracked o;>en his sample case in the huge Los Angeles market. And within four hours he was figuratively suffering from writers' cramp, so successful was his round of calls.

Viscount Edward Lord Halifax, British Ambassador to the United States, was the salesman. Greatly intensified output by America's industrial machine was the business he sought. A man of austere mien, sombre dress and deliberate speech, he did not look the part of the salesman upon whose efforts so much depended. But 20.000 day-shift workers at the Lockheed and Vega warplane plants at Burbank who heard him in a 35-minute address cheered him to the echo with their right arms pushed aloft in the gesture of "thumbs up" which was originated in bomb-harried London, but is becoming the symbol of victorious democracy the world over.

Lord Halifax was accompanied by gracious Lady Halifax, whose principal contribution to the Los Angeles visit was a dramatic thing more touching than if it had been done by the best British actress who ever faced the footlights. That was when she spoke into a microphone at Lockheed and- gave world flyer Jimmy Mattern. listening in the pilot's compartment of the plant's 1000 th Lockheed Hudson bomber, out on the runway, the go sign for a take-off for Montreal, the North Atlantic and Britain.

"Go. Jimmy Mattern!" she shouted, with a dramatic gesture of the right arm. "and God bless you!" The titled English couple were an instant success from the moment they descended the steps of a Pullman at Union Station at 9 a.m. Lord Halifax, carrying a linen dust coat over his left arm with a black furled umbrella dangling beneath it, was greeted by ruddy-cheeked Eric Cleugh, British Consul to Los Angeles, and Mrs. Cleugh. Lord Halifax took one glance at the bright sky—and handed his umbrella and coat as surreptitiously as possible to an aide. As New Zealanders know, Los Angeles is very touchy on its boasted continual sunshinv clunate.

After calling on Mayor Bowron the party sped to Lockheed's mammoth warplane factory at Burbank for a tour of the final assembly lines

Then Lord Halifax was ushered into an upstairs office for a tilt with 31 newspaper reporters and photographers and representatives of radio and Press Associations. What had been expected to be a rather trying session, because of the reputation for stiffness and austerity which has long surrounded Lord Halifax, came off as a memorable interview in which the subject answered questions readily and with apparent candour, and sometimes even a little humour.

This last was illustrated when Lord Halifax was asked to comment on the recent sound-off by Colonel

.Install ('. Wedgwood. British M.1 , .. regarding the attitude of Senator Burton K. Wheeler toward the war (Wedgwood said Wheeler should "go soak his head") and regarding prompt physical intervention by America in the war. "That apparently occurred while I was on the train coming west from Washington." the Viscount countered. "I cannot express any opinion. But I understand Colonel Wedgwood is going home."

Lord Halifax said he had come to the West Coast to "see what's happening here," and because "1 wanted to see what the aircraft industry is doing here—it's so very important to us. I shall go to England in a few months for a few weeks' visit. I shall have a message of encouragement to the people over there. I'll tell them how it's going over on this side. Aeroplanes and ships—those two things are vital to us." Ho did not believe the suggested inclusion of an American in the British War Cabinet was a good idea. "I would not have thought it necessary bocause we are working in complete harmony — exchanging information all the time and co-operating fully. There is no difference of view between the two Governments." Lord Halifax asserted that British pilots have a "tremendous admiration" for American-built aeroplanes. The performance of American planes is he ß df? ( ' immensely appreciated." Long War Expected The Ambassador, asked if Britain were preparing for a long war answered promptly. "Certainly! At least three years. We are preparing for war as lons as it is necessary to put an end to Hitler and his tribe. The English people are prepared to suck it as long as necessarv Ml classes in England are allied"to keep the spirit of unity to help us over to victory. You have no idea how strong that spirit of unity has been WK imered i , nto them ov er there tho e ,£fX , an< J wh ? n America enters the war is for this country to decide, naturally." Lord Halifax said However, on the production side we want you to gear up from ordinary r, n ±fh!' V l V Var indu stry as fast as possible. If you can get the goods to us in sufficient quantities and fast enough—we can ... use them well?" He said most Britishers understand the problem of getting production up since it was their own pioblem a few years ago, and he said, "the British people arc im done 8 " grateful for what >' ou have

Although refusing to be drawn I into a discussion of British strategy the Ambassador predicted that Heavy air and economic pressure - ' would be exerted against. Germany, as well as "internal stresses within Germany. This is a very different j war from the last one—scientific industrial, economic and most of all air strength counting most " He declined to discount the importance' of passive resistance in Hitler-domi-nated countries. "This will change to something more effective . . V' , "Hitler." he said, "probably expected i a short, quick timetable in his ;

Russian adventure, but it's not quite as he fanned. With all he's .got <>n his plate already, this will be significant.' . Time Gained A prime advantage to Britain from the outbreak <>f the Russian campaign has been to gain time to strengthen the .Middle East, he pointed out. lie said it was difficult to "build conclusions on the progress of war material deliveries u> Britain from any single week's or month's sinkings' figures on ship sinkings. The Germans see that unless Hitler can destroy Britain he has not solved his problem, and we may be sure he will continue to employ his three possible weapons— i invasion, bombing and blockades. 1 i feel sure he will continue his blockado effort." Regarding possible I'nitcd States entry into the war he said: "Whether it is for you to get in the war—that is your business. I have my own opinion about this, but it will remain mine!" As One Mail After thanking the Press for its courtesies, Lord Halifax toured the Lockheed plant with President Robert E. Gross and other executives, and then made his way to a flag-bedecked platform for his speech to the workers. A few minutes before 12 noon the hum i and clatter of the great factory buildings ceased, and thousands of workers flowed out into the yard to hear the British envoy. Just before he spoke three (if Lockheed's proudest products—P-3S Lightning interceptor pursuits—roared past in the fraction of a second. He gazed thoughtfully in the direction thev had arrowed as he listened to President Gross' introduction. After speaking of what the British people have gone through. Mr. Gross said: "Ours is a different battle at this moment—sweat, not blood, we are asked to Rive. Are you ready now—will you join me in 'thumbs up" for carrying on?" As one man. the 20,000 workers shot arms in the air with thumbs upraised, accompanied by a tremendous cheer. And as Lord Halifax praised the performance of Lockheed Hudsons in the air battles of the Continent, the workers responded with unmistakeable evidence that they were proud of their workmanship and of what their product was doing at the front. As Lady Halifax gave the word. Pilot Mattern gunned his huge engines and roared up off the runway as the Ambassador and his lady watched with misty eyes. Then Mattern "stood her on her tail" to gain altitude and circled back at tremendous speed to "drag the field" in a breath-catching stunt. The party went off to the Vega plant and then to an informal and private luncheon at the Lakeside Country Club. Late in the afternoon they flew to San Francisco, arriving in the evening and going through another "Press conference" where the genial Viscount underwent another lengthy and varied interview. He was good-natured throughout and won the esteem of the assembled pressmen.