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BRITISH KMBA3SY,
WASHINGTON, D. C.
January 10th, 1940.
No, 45
Hy Lord,
I have the honour to report that on January
4th and 5th I paid what I might call a semi-official
visit to Chicago for the principal purpose of dellvaring
a speech before the menbe *s of the Chicago Council on
Foreign Halations.   i-Iy two days spent In the city wore
replete with engagements which, In addition to the
Council's dinner at the i aimer House attended by
approximately a thousand people, included a tea ^3-ven
In my honour by the p-n^llah ' peaking Union, two private
lunches given by friends at which I mat many leading
representatives of business and a tea ^Ivon by Ills
Majesty's Consul-General (with whom I stayed) for
about forty menbers of the faculties of Chicago and
Northwestern 'inlversitles.   On each occasion I took
the opportunity to explain as best I could Ills
majesty's Government's attitude In regar*' to the r>ar
and the peace to follow an well as to answer questions
on these matters and on the actual prosecution of 'jhe
war.   The dinner of the Counci}. on foreign Holatlons
was a very largo and representative aifair presided
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over by a woll-Unown lawyer, :'r. Tonald :;cPhorson, who
Introduced me briefly.   My own remarks were ao.sewhat
lengthy, lasting some fifty-six minutes, but I wa
attentively listened to from beginning to end. J^rom
the comments gathered from various listeners by
L:CB:LMG:CL
The Viscount Halifax, K. G., I
etc., etc., etc.
?he Kight ionourable
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Mr. Bernays and others the speech was well llkad and
welcomed as a long sought manifestation of the British
point of view In an Important political centre which
had "cried* for such enllghtennent Tor a long time,
2. Kxcept for a few Bluer criticisms in quarters
In which this could normally oe expected I havo not
cone across any unsatisfactory reactions In fcho press
v nether In the ttast or Kid-west and in such organs
as the Ran York Vines my remarks were printed verbatim*
In general the speech, which waa§ I think, frank and
outspoken, has bee:; welcomed as clarliylng the Issues
on the war and the British attitude thereto*   i was
particularly Impressed by the friendly attention shown
towards me by Mr* Edward J* Kelly, .Mayor of Chicago,
and I regrot that his absence from the city made It
impossible for me to make hie acquaintance*   Mr* -ielly
sent a representative to meet mo at the station,
expressed his desire to fly the Hnlon Jack on City all,
though whether this was carried out I have not yet
ascertained, and provided me with extremely efficient
and courteous police protection both when moving from
placa to place and at all buildings visited*   Xn a city
which has long been regarded as a centre of anti-British
propaganda and feeling this has been a satisfactory
symptom.   In conclusion I wish to express my high
appreciation of the energy and skill shown by His
Majesty's Consul General, In spite of ill-health, in
making/
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making the somewhat complicated arrangements
necessary to ensure the smooth accomplishment of
ray task.
I enclose three copies of the press release
of my speech and an sending a few printed copies In
{0%c^      the noxt bog,
^ I have the honour to be,
It With tho highest respect.
My lord,
Your I^ordshlp's most obedient,
humble servant,
(MM i.cmtiAU