WARM WELCOME

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24675, 30 August 1943, Page 2

WARM WELCOME

MRS. ROOSEVELT'S TOUR WELLINGTON RECEPTION JIANIY ENGAGEMENTS KEPT (S.Jtl.) WELLINGTON. Sunday Wellington ex to tided a warm welcome to Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, who arrived yesterday by special train from Auckland. She was met at the railway station by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Eraser, Cabinet Ministers, members of the Legislature, representatives of the United Nations, senior ollicers of the New Zealand and United States forces and civic dignitaries. The visitor's arrival and drive through the city streets to Government Mouse, where she is a guest during her three-day stay in Wellington, was watelied by enthusiastic crowds, which waved greetings. Station Introductions .Mrs. Roosevelt's train arrived punctually to schedule at 10.15 a.m. Two stops of about an hour each were made during the 430-mile journey, one after the members of the party had retired to their sleeping berths for the night and the other at Te Horo, where the train was side-tracked while breakfast was taken and the limited was allowed to pass through. Mrs. Roosevelt's carriage was brought to a standstill opposite a red carpet, which stretched across the platform to the waiting motor-car in which she and the Governor-General went to Government House. As she stepped from her carriage she had to face a battery of cameramen and photographers and before leaving the station was introduced by the Prime Minister to members of the official party. Scenes Like Home From the time of her arrival Mrs. Roosevelt was kept busy with her engagements. Before lunch she granted a press conference and after this had to face another battery of cameras on the lawn in front of Government House. In the mid-afternoon she attended a State reception at Parliament House and in the evening there was a dinner at Government House in her honour. During her train journey Mrs. Roosevelt had the opportunity of seeing something of tho New Zealand countryside and in her reply at the State reception she remarked that it looked familiar to her and that she could pick out places that looked very much tho same as they did at home. Address to Women An American naval hospital was visited to-day by Mrs. Roosevelt, and she also called at two Services clubs. Mrs. Roosevelt was the guest at dinner this evening of Mr. Raymond Cox, United States Charge d'AffairoK, and to-night addressed a special meeting of women on the part women are playing in the war effort. The meeting was held in a city theatre and long before it was due to begin all the seats had been taken. For all her engagements Mrs. Roosevelt wore the uniform of the American Red Cross. Site explained that she had brought no civilian clothes with her and that her baggage comprised two bags, a typewriter and a handbag.

WORKING FOR PEACE BETTER FOUNDATION HOPE FOR UNITED EFFORT (S.R.) WELLINGTON, Sunday An enthusiastic reception was accorded Mrs. Roosevelt at :i State reception in her honour at Parliament House yesterday afternoon. The gathering was representative of all sections of the community and as the guests entered the social hall they were received by the Prime .Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser. Mrs Fraser and Mrs. Roosevelt. The Prime Minister said that no one was sure of a warmer welcome from the people of New Zealand than Mrs. Roosevelt. The people of the British race would never forget the great service President Roosevelt had rendered the democratic cause. Loud applause greeted Mrs. Roosevelt. when she rose to reply. "I hope when the time comes to build a world of peace we will again stand side by side, men and women, and try this time to lay a better foundation for peace than we did the last time." said Mrs. Roosevelt after expressing appreciation of the hospitality extended by New Zealanders to men of the United States forces stationed in the Dominion "I am afraid that peace is not a thing that signatures on a piece of paper bring about. Peace. 1 think, has to he worked for day in and day out. just as we work in win the war. I hope that this time we will put the same crusading spirit into the future as we -ire putting into (he present." A tribute in (he people ol Britain was paid by Mrs. Roosevelt., who said she thought the stand they had made alter Dunkirk had not been fully appreciated As history was written, however. all would come to know (hat the stand they had taken at that time had allowed the people of the United States to wake up to the menace threatening the world "I know we are going to win the war." she said. "That. I think, everyone is sure of, hut this (ime we must win the peace and that is harder than winning the war. 1 hope that in ibis linn:: we "ill work on together." Cheers were given for Mrs. Roosevelt before and after her speech and her remarks were frequently applauded. DESPONDENT GERMANS INTERCEPTED LETTERS tS.H.) WELLINGTON, Sunda.\ Rehire the departure ol Mrs Roosevelt for New Zealand, Mr. Winston Churchill and his daughter, Miss Mary Churchill, were the guests of the President and his wife at Hyde Park for two days. At her press conference at Government House yesterday Mrs. Roosevelt said that one night Mr. Churchill read out extracts from a number ol uneensoml letters the British intelligence bad captured from German prisoners in Tunisia. In one ol the letters a German mother writing to her sou said that the one important thing was to remain alive. This mother had added that reports at home indicated that the campaign in Tunisia was nol going well ami that: she hoped Africa would not In' another SI aTingrad. w here the men of I'he German army went hungry, and (hat if the recipient had done all that he could she hoped that he would surrender so that she could see him again "Every one of the letters that. Mr. Churchill read was despondent, in lone," said Mrs. Roosevelt. "They showed a break in German morale at home."

AUCKLAND RECEPTION FUNCTION ON WEDNESDAY A civic reception will lie tendered to Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt in the Town Hall on Wednesday at 12.,°>0 p.m. The Mayor. Mr. J. A. C. Allnm, said yesterday that; all citizens would be invited to attend the reception. VISIT TO AUSTRALIA LONDON, AUK. -'S Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt is expected to visit Australia after her New Zealand tour, says the British official wireless. She will visit the capital cities of the Commonwealth.