FOREIGN POLICY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23284, 1 March 1939, Page 5

FOREIGN POLICY

EUROPEAN AFFAIRS MR. CHAMBERLAIN PRAISED attitude; during crisis [by TELEGRAPH—I'II ESS association] WELLINGTON, Tuesday Uecent rumours that Mr. ChamberJain's days an Prime Minister were numbered because of his policy of concession to totalitarian States during the European crisis were emphatically discounted by the Hon. Mrs. Ferdinand Stanley, of London, who arrived by the Awatea to-day on it holiday visit to New Zealand after spending live weeks in Australia. Mrs. Stanley is the widow of BrigadierGeneral the Hon. Ferdinand Stanley and a daughter-in-law of the present Karl of Derby. Before her marriage she was the Hon. Alexandra Fellowes, daughter of Lord do Ramsey, of Jxanisev Abbey, Huntingdonshire. Claiming to know something of what " was going 0:11 behind the scenes in Britain, Mrs. Stanley said Mr. Chamberlain's popularity among the people of Britain had never been higher. The rearmament programme was throwing a heavy burden on the nation, but people were bearing it without complaint, because they realised that under the present circumstances no other course was possible. "We do not say very much, but we are much better prepared for any eventuality than many people think," 6aitl Mrs. Stanley.

During her five weeks' stay in Australia Mrs. Stanley was the guest of the Governor-General, Lord Cowrie, and Lady Gciwrie. She said she had formed a very high opinion of Australian people and admired the way "they were facing up to the problem of defence. >, Owing to the illness of a friend who was to accompany: her, Mrs. Stanley will not .complete her full itinerary of New Zealand, but will visit' only the North Island scenic attractions. Although she has travelled widely, Mrs. Stanley said this was her first visit east of Singapore. She has, however, been round the world many times. She will leave Auckland in March by the Monterey for the United States, where she will visit a friend who owns a ranch on the Arizona desert. Connected with a racing family and herself a racing enthusiast, Airs. Stanley is looking forward to seeing the Kentucky Derby run in America on May 4. She plans to arrive in England for the Derby on May 2-1. She will leave Wellington to-morrow morning for the Chateau Tongariro.