GIFT TO MR. CHAMBERLAIN

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 January 1939, Page 9

GIFT TO MR. CHAMBERLAIN

NO PERSONAL GAIN

In accordance with the wishes of Mr. Neville Chamberlain, the sum of 500,1'001'. (£2770) raised by public subscription under the auspices of the newspaper “Paris-Soir” to buy the Primo Minister a< property in France as thankseffering for his services to peace will be paid over to French exservice charities.

Mr. Chamberlain has addressed the following letter to IVI. Prouvost, the owner of "Paris-Soir”: —

I have been very touched by Hie initiative 01 “Paris-Soir” in opening a fund to piovide me with a residence in France, and by the magnificent response in which this suggestion lias evoked.

I hope that t lie very kind subscribers will not lake it amiss if I feel compelled to decline this most generous cller. Their action, and the many private letters which Mrs. Chamberlain and I have received, in addition to resolutions from public bodies in France, are to me the greatest encouragement in pursuing the path of peace to which all my energies will continue to be directed; and they will, I trust, appreciate that J would not wish to derive any personal gain for myself. '1 ho wounds of the last war are still with us. and a debt rests on our generation to alleviate these wounds insofar as in us lies. I venture, therefore, to suggest that the “Paris-Soir” fund' might be handed over to the Office National des Mutiles Andiens Combatants, Victimes de la. Guerre et Pupilles de la Nation, to be administered as that body thinks best. I understand that this suggestion commends itself to you, and I hope it will be algreeable to those who have been so kind and generous as to associate themselves with this memorial, to one and all of whom I offer my sincerest thanks.