VITAL MEETINGS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20027, 28 August 1939, Page 5

VITAL MEETINGS

BRITISH CABINET

ARRIVAL OF ENVOY VIEWS FROM BERLIN AUDIENCE WITH KING CONJECTUR E DISCOIIR AG ED (Bine Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reccl. Aug. 28, !) tun.) LONDON, Aug. 27. Sir Nevilc Henderson reached Croydon at 12.15 yesterday and proceded at once by ear to Downing Street, where the Prime Minister, Mr. Neville Chamberlain, and the Foreign Secretary, Viscount Halifax, were waiting.

A considerable crowd ihad assembled in Downing Street in anticipation of important consultations and to watch the comings and goings of Ministers and the chiefs of the defence services.

After three hours in conversation at No. 10 Mr. Chamberlain and Sir Ncvile Henderson later had an audience with the King and detailed the Ambassador’s interview with Herr Hitler.

The Cabinet met at 5 p.m, and rose at 8.54 p.m.

It is pointed put that whatever communication Sir NcviLle Henderson brought with him from Germany was certain to receive the most serious attention of the British Government, which has coupled every reiteration in recent days of its firmness in reacting to aggression with a renewal of its advocacy of peaceful solutions, and, which has been at pains to display the sympathy and appreciation with which it is watching the efforts of King Leopold of Belgium, acting for the Oslo Powers, of the Pope and of President Roosevelt to rally the strength-of reason and moral authority of mankind against the possibility of war. Considerable Importance Sir Nevilc Henderson’s decision to give a personal account to Viscount Halifax of his long talk with Herr Hitler —it lasted’ well over an hour, but there was no second interview as erroneously stated in some reports—clearly indicates his opinion that what the Chancellor had to say was of considerable importance. Official quarters here have given no indication of what passed between Sir Nevilc Henderson and Herr Hitler. Speculation is discouraged and, it is stated regarding an article emanating from Berlin, which appeared in a London newspaper that the description it purported ito give of the interview was totally devoid of foundation.

Press and' unofficial comment makes the assumption, founded on reports from Berlin, that the Ambassador brought suggestions for a settlement by negotiation and, while even the more optimistic do not go so far as to hope Herr Hitler’s immediate proposals would be such as the British Government would feel able to transmit them to Poland, some findi encouragement in the fact that the Nazis would appear to have moved from the position that their claims on behalf of Germany against Poland' cannot 'be made the subject of discussion or compromise.

Cheers in Downing Street

The Cabinet met last night to receive a report from Mr. Chamberlain and ViscounJt flallifax on the day’s developments in the international situation, which they received from Sir Nevile Henderson of his interview with Herr Hitler. Crowds which remained all day in Downing Street cheered the Ministers as they arrived for the Cabinet meeting. Sir Nevile Henderson was also cheered as he left No. 10 to go to Buckingham Palace where he had an audience with the King lasting an hour arad 25 minutes.

The Under-Secretai'y for Foreign Affairs, Mr. R, A. Butler, the Permanent Under-Secretary of the Foreign Office, Sir Alexander Cadogan, were present at the discussions between Sir Nevile Henderson and Mr. Chamberlain and Viscount Halifax.

fn the middle of the afternoon Viscount Halifax received the French and Polish Ambassadors, M. Corbin and Count Racynsski respectively, at the Foreign Office, returning later to No. 10.

The Duke of Gloucester and' the Duke of Kent lunched with the King at Buckingham Palace yesterday. Earlier, the King gave an audience of over an hour to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir John Simon.