Chamberlain returns with Czechoslovak
peace pact

LONDON, SEPT. 30 (AP) - Prime Minister Chamberlain flew home today, to vast, cheering throngs, with a peace pact on Czechoslovakia and strong hopes for a broad European settlement as the fruits of his diplomacy.

"Settlement of the Czech problem, which now has been achieved," Chamberlain said, "is in my view only a prelude to a larger settlement in which all Europe may find peace."

Smiling broadly, the prime minister waved his hat with schoolboy enthusiasm at the excited thousands.

He held up, for the crowd to see, the joint declaration he and Adolf Hitler signed this morning in a private talk after the Four-Power conference.

Then he said:

"The German chancellor and I regard the agreement signed last night and the Anglo-German naval agreement as symbolic of the desire of our two peoples never to go to war with one another again."

He stepped from his plane at 5:39 p.m. (11:39 a.m. New York time) to mad cheering by excited crowds that had gathered at Heston Airport to give him a triumphant homecoming from this third flight to Germany.

The prime minister was handed a letter from King George as soon as he emerged from the airplane.

One of his first duties was to go to Buckingham Palace and report personally to the King on the achievements of the Four-Power conference at Munich yesterday.

First, however, the prime minister told the crowd there were two things he wanted to say:

"I have received an immense number of letters during all these anxious times.

"So has my wife - letters of support and approval and gratitude - and I cannot tell you what encouragement that has been to me.

"I want to thank the British people for what they have done, and next, I want to say that settlement of the Czechoslovak problem, which now has been achieved, is in my view only a prelude to a larger settlement in which all Europe may find peace.

"This morning, I had another talk with German Chancellor Herr Hitler and here is the paper which bears his name on it as well as mine.

"Some of you, perhaps, already have heard what it contains, but I would just like to read it to you."

It was raining, but the crowd stood and listened.

As he finished reading, there were chants of "For he's a jolly good fellow."

Chamberlain then entered his auto and sped directly to Buckingham Palace.

In response to a clamoring crowd in front of the palace, the king and queen ushered the prime minister and Mrs. Chamberlain to a balcony, where they received tremendous cheers.

When he got back to Downing Street, there was another crowd, and Chamberlain spoke from a window.

"It is peace for our time," he said, declaring that "for the second time in history, there has come back from Germany peace with honor." (The other time was at the Congress of Berlin in 1878.)

The crowd sang the national anthem, while anti-aircraft searchlights, put in place a few days ago in preparation for war, moved their beams rapidly across the sky.

"My good friends," said Chamberlain, "I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Now I recommend that you go home and sleep quietly and peacefully in your beds."

Hours before Chamberlain's plane was expected, roads leading to Heston Airport were blocked with automobiles, bicycles and pedestrians.

In the throng was the entire Cabinet, out to greet him on his return from the mission to Germany which he started yesterday with his ministers' surprise send-off.

In the milling throngs were school children waving Union Jacks.

Lloyds' rang the famous Lutine Bell in celebration of the peace settlement.

Viscount Halifax, foreign secretary, weary from long hours during the crisis was given rousing cheers by crowds in Downing Street as he left to meet his chief, Sir John Simon, chancellor of the exchequer, similarly was acclaimed.

Boos and cries of "throw them out!" dinned in the lit street as a deputation representing a national unemployed workers' movement called at No. 10 to leave a resolution censuring the government for cooperating with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy.