SAFE ARRIVAL

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 234, 3 October 1942, Page 5

SAFE ARRIVAL

MR. WENDEL WILLKIE

Tumultuous Welcome In War-torn Chungking

United Press Association—Copyright Ree. noon. CHUNGKING, Oct. 2. Mr. W endell Willkie, special American envoy to the United Nations, has arrived in Chungking by air after his journey having been delayed at one point en route by the presence of a Japanese plane. Mr. \V illkie was welcomed at the airport by members of Marshal Chiang Kaishek s Cabinet, high diplomats and 10,000 of various organisations. Thousands lined the benaggea and gaily decorated streets of war-torn, but still prosperous, Chungking, and gave him the greatest welcome ever accorded to a foreigner in Free China's capital. Millions of fire-crackers were exploded as Mr. Willkie drove in a triumphal procession through the city. The name Yweierchi, meaning Powerful Foundation," will be conferred on Mr. Willkie. Chinese Pressmen questioned Mr. \\ illkie about the criticism of his Moscow statement that militarv leaders might have to be prodded to open a second front. He replied. "I ai\\a\s have a bad habit of saving what I think." - e Asked about the Russians, he leplied, They are putting up a great fight qver there." H7^ u - ngking s Mayor told Mr \V illkie, "I have no key to our citv. but that is unnecessarv, because the whole city is open to you." i