Neville Chamberlain
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30 September, 1938


The phrase "peace for our time" was spoken on 30 September 1938 by British prime minister 
Neville Chamberlain in his speech concerning the Munich Agreement.[1] It is primarily 
remembered for its ironic value. The Munich Agreement gave the Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia 
to Adolf Hitler in an attempt to satisfy his desire for Lebensraum or "living space" for 
Germany. The German occupation of the Sudetenland began on the next day, 1 October.

Less than a year after the agreement, following continued aggression from Germany and its 
invasion of Poland, Europe was plunged into World War II.

Often misquoted as "peace in our time", this had appeared long before in The Book of 
Common Prayer as "Give peace in our time, O Lord". We cannot know how deliberate 
Chamberlain's use of such a similar term was, but anyone of his background would be 
familiar with the original.

Chamberlain landed at Heston Aerodrome on 30 September 1938, and spoke to the crowds there:

    "...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 (proceeds to read the agreement). We 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."

Later that day he stood outside Number 10 Downing Street and again read from the document and 
concluded:

    "My good friends, this is the second time in our history that there has come back from 
Germany to Downing Street peace with honour. I believe it is peace for our time. We thank you 
from the bottom of our hearts. And now I recommend you to go home and sleep quietly in your beds."

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The British Prime Minister has been hailed as bringing "peace to Europe" after signing a 
non-aggression pact with Germany.

PM Neville Chamberlain arrived back in the UK today, holding an agreement signed by Adolf Hitler 
which stated the German leader's desire never to go to war with Britain again.

The two men met at the Munich conference between Britain, Germany, Italy and France yesterday, 
convened to decide the future of Czechoslovakia's Sudetenland.

Mr Chamberlain declared the accord with the Germans signalled "peace for our time", after he 
had read it to a jubilant crowd gathered at Heston airport in west London.

The German leader stated in the agreement: "We are determined to continue our efforts to remove 
possible sources of difference and thus to contribute to assure the peace of Europe."

But many MPs are bound to criticise it as part of the Prime Minister's "appeasement" of German 
aggression in Europe.

And Mr Chamberlain's personal pact will be little comfort to the Czechoslovakian Government which 
has been forced to hand over the region of Sudetenland to Germany, despite not being present at 
the conference.

After greeting members of the public at the airport, Mr Chamberlain appeared in front of another 
rejoicing throng on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with the King and Queen, and again later 
outside 10 Downing Street.

The British Prime Minister was forced to mobilise the Royal Navy four days ago when Germany 
announced it was building massive fortifications in Rhineland.

But the Conservative leader has always expressed his desire to find a peaceful solution to the 
Fuehrer's wish to create a new - and enlarged - German homeland in Europe.