Ambassador

Thirty thousand U.S. workmen, employed by the big Lockheed airplane factory at Burbank, Calif., waited in the field beside the plant. In white shirts, bareheaded in the California noonday sun, they watched with the intent, quizzical, unfathomable expressions of U.S. workmen in a crowd. On the platform, Lord Halifax finished his brief speech of thanks to the men for the production of planes for Britain.

On the field the 1,000th Lockheed Hudson bomber built for Britain was warming up, ready to take the air, famed Pilot Jimmy Mattern at the controls. Lady Halifax said: "May I say to you and all the good workers of Lockheed . . . the people of Britain will welcome the arrival of yet another Hudson. . . . And now your labor takes wings. Go, Jimmy Mattern, and God bless you." The plane streaked off for the Rockies, Canada, Britain and the war. Lord Halifax smiled; Lady Halifax seemed close to tears.

That 30,000 U.S. workmen heard Lord Halifax and greeted him with thumbs up and a deafening roar of welcome was astonishing to people who have a doctrinaire view of the U.S. and of U.S. workmen. Lord Halifax, a fox hunter and a gentleman, is aristocracy, and a good example of it. But to New Deal theoreticians, he is a specimen of a declining class. Ever since he arrived in Washington, New Dealers have buzzed with stories of U.S. labor's animosity toward him. Even gentle Poet Carl Sandburg, who could hardly find a harsh word to say about Jeff Davis in his volumes on Lincoln, let fly with a blistering attack on Lord Halifax.

However the U.S. looked to the Ambassador's aristocratic eyes, no flicker of resentment showed in them. Antagonistic newspapermen who baited him found themselves answered gravely and at length, could not swear that he knew he was being baited.

Last week it looked as if Lord Halifax had won his point, and was at last identified by the U.S. as an individual rather than as a symbol of Britain's upper class. He flew from Los Angeles to San Francisco, talked to 700 men building marine engines for sub chasers, to 1,500 shipyard workers, was cheered by both groups. In San Francisco police had to clear a path for him to the speaker's table. He warned Japan that, while Britain had no desire to pick a quarrel, she would not let her interests in the Far East be set aside. He warned the U.S. that Hitler would soon make a specious peace offer, which Britain would reject ("For sheer efficiency as a liar, Hitler stands alone in history.").

Leaving a San Francisco hotel, the Ambassador was confronted by an elderly woman, dressed in black, carrying a large placard that read: "We remember 1776 and we will defend our Republic." Lord Halifax asked her pleasantly, "You are against aiding England?"

Said the picket: "I have nine sons. Seven of them are eligible for the draft, and some of them have been taken. I will give every one of my sons gladly to defend this country but I will not give one of them to fight a war for another nation."

Lord Halifax said: "I, too, have sons, three of them, fighting for England."

"That's your war."

There was a pause. Lord Halifax said: "Won't you shake hands?" They shook hands.

"I have no feeling against Britain," said the old lady.

"Of course not," said the Ambassador. "Thank you."

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