01 June 2019

Neville Chamberlain's 'Peace of Our Time'


Image size: 1600 x 985 pixel. 594 KB
Date: Friday, 30 September 1938
Place: Heston Aerodrome, London, England
Photographer: Unknown

British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain holding the paper containing the resolution to commit to peaceful methods signed by both Hitler and himself on his return from Münich, Germany. He is showing the piece of paper to a crowd at Heston Aerodrome, west of London,  in front of G-AFGN, a British Airways Lockheed 14, on 30 September 1938. He said: "...the settlement of the Czechoslovakian problem, which has now been achieved is, in my view, only the prelude to a larger settlement in which all Europe may find peace. This morning I had another talk with the German Chancellor, Herr Hitler, and here is the paper which bears his name upon it as well as mine (waves paper to the crowd - receiving loud cheers and "Hear Hears"). Some of you, perhaps, have already heard what it contains but I would just like to read it to you ...". Later that day he stood outside Number 10 Downing Street and again read from the document and concluded: "My good friends, for the second time in our history, a British Prime Minister has returned from Germany bringing peace with honour. I believe it is peace for our time." The last phrase ('Peace for our time') echoed Benjamin Disraeli, who, upon returning from the Congress of Berlin in 1878, stated, "I have returned from Germany with peace for our time". It is primarily remembered for its ironic value: less than a year after the agreement, continued pressure for return of the Polish corridor by Hitler, and subsequently the invasion of Poland was followed by declarations of war on Germany by France and the United Kingdom. It is often misquoted as "peace in our time", which had appeared long before in the Book of Common Prayer as "Give peace in our time, O Lord", probably based on the 7th-century hymn "Da pacem Domine! in diebus nostris, Alleluja". It is unknown how deliberate Chamberlain's use of such a similar term was. 







Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peace_for_our_time
https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/on-this-day-1938-peace-for-our-time-was-a-hollow-boast-by-neville-chamberlain/

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