Word: austen
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Dates: during 1920-1929
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Speaking in French, the official language of the assembly, Sir Austen first read a greeting from King George, and then lauded extempore the now familiar "spirit of Locarno."Mr. Baldwin, ever at ease, tilted back his chair and hooked his thumbs in the sleeveholes of his vest. One by one, the plenipotentiaries rose and spoke for a moment on the great step toward peace they were about to take...
...square-shouldered Vandervelde signed next, without causing comment. But "A. Briand" was "fairly dashed into script." Mr. Baldwin signed "easily and casually." Sir Austen, however, created practically a sensation by "taking off the monocle, without which he is never seen . . . adjusting a pair of horn-rimmed spectacles and signing with a golden quill-pen presented to him by the British delegation to Locarno." Signor Scialoja signed with "an ordinary quill...
...Flourish. With the treaties properly signed, sealed and berib-boned,† the assembly was formally declared terminated by Sir Austen, but not until another round of speeches had been indulged in. M. Briand's address was the only one either greatly moving or notably significant. Rising to his full height, he cried: "At last the spirit of solidarity takes the place of that of distrust and suspicion. . . . Opposite me I behold the German delegates. That does not mean that I do not remain a good Frenchman! They are good Germans! But in the light of these treaties...
Later the genial Winston did his colleague Sir Austen the favor to "loan" him "No. 11 Downing,"** at which Sir Austen and Lady Cham- berlain proceeded to entertain the plenipotent signatories. A tea was likewise given to the delegates by the King and Queen at Buckingham. Elaborate festivities had originally been planned, but had to be abandoned on account of the Queen Mother's death...
Amid an awkward pause, Dr. Luther and Herr Stresemann arose and quitted the gallery. A few minutes later Foreign Secretary Sir Austen Chamberlain appeared and smoothed matters over as follows...