SIR N. HENDERSON

Evening Star, Issue 23380, 25 September 1939, Page 8

SIR N. HENDERSON

“ STRONG SILENT MAN " Sir Nevile Henderson in the last year has become probably the best known member of the diplomatic corps because of his onerous task ‘as Ambassador in Berlin. He is a bachelor, and at the age of 57 can look back on 35 years in ine diplomatic service, including appointments in Russia, Japan, Italy, Egypt, and Turkey. An old Etonian, he is a tall man of soldierly appearance. “ The strong, silent man of diplomacy,” is one description which naa been applied to him. He is strict and efficient, and his diplomatic manner i* direct and brusque. It is said that ho nearly wrecked his career when as Third Secretary in the British Embassy in St. Petersburg (as it was then named) he spotted a strange figure prowling in the gloom of the embassy grounds one evening and brought him ' down with a Rugby tackle. Dragging the “spy” to his feet Sir Nevile found himself looking into the wrathful face of his chief, the Ambassador. Another story told of Sir Nevile which is certainly in character and deserves to be true, is that during the crisis of last September, his icy calm during an interview with the German Foreign Alinister so annoyed von Ribbentrop that he lost his temper and remarked: “ Anyway, England’s ruled by Jews.” Sir Nevile picked up his hat, gloves, and stick. At least,” he said, before turning to go, “ wij’rc ruled by gentlemen.”