Port After Stormy Seas

Northern Advocate, 29 September 1938, Page 7

Port After Stormy Seas

Remarkable Scenes In Commons Herr Hitler Agrees to Four Power Conference Mr Chamberlain Flies To Munich

(Received 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, September 28. IN THE HISTORY OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, SAYS THE AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS, HAS THERE BEEN A SCENE SIMILAR TO THAT WHEN MR CHAMBERLAIN ANNOUNCED HERR HITLER’S AGREEMENT TO A FOUR POWER CONFERENCE. In tired and gloomy tones, Mr Chamberlain was reaching the end of his speech when a messenger was seen calling Viscount Halifax, Foreign Secretary, from the Peers’ Gallery, where he sat alongside Earl Baldwin and the Duke of Kent. Minutes later, the messenger struggled through the crowded Bar of the House and handed a document to Sir John Simon, who quickly glanced at it and passed it to Mr Chamberlain, who was then outlining his last desperate approach to Signor Mussolini. Shouts, Cheers and Tears. Mr Chamberlain halted a moment, drew himself up to his full height, and, in ringing tones, read Herr Hitler’s agreement to a conference. Feeling in the House burst like a volcano. Members pn all sides. Peers, the Diplomatic Corps, distinguished visitors and the J»ress leaped upon their feet, shouting, cheering and crying. As the cheering subsided, Mr Chamberlain’s voice was again heard. He was controlling himself with difficulty. The obvious strain of the past weeks had taken a sudden hold. Then, with the coming of a sense of relief, the muscles of his face twitching, in scarcely audible tones, he said: “No member of the House will not feel his heart leap that the crisis is' once more postponed. I hope ■ the House is prepared to release me now to go to see what I can make of this last effort.” j A solitary “Ayd” expressed the House’s agreement. ■jA. “It’s All Right This Time.” The dramatic announcement was made a few minutes before the closing of the Stock Exchange. Mr Chamberlain was smiling whe- he left the House of Commons for No. 10 Downing Street, where he was greeted by cheers from a crowd waiting in Whitehall. y Mr Chamberlain called to them; “It’s all right this time.” Queen Mary, who was present in the House of Commons with the Duchess of Kent, left the House in tears. There were delirious cheers for her, likewise for every official car. '