Editing Neville Chamberlain (section)

==== Aftermath and reception ====
[[File:MunichAgreement.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|alt=A large crowd on an airfield; British prime minister Neville Chamberlain presents an assurance from German chancellor Adolf Hitler.|Chamberlain holding up the paper signed by both Hitler and himself on his return from [[Munich]] to [[Heston Aerodrome]].]]
{{listen
| filename = Another talk with the German Chancellor, Herr Hitler.ogg
| title = Chamberlain's return to Britain after Munich
| description = Neville Chamberlain speaks to the crowd upon arrival at Heston Aerodrome, 30 September 1938.
}}

Before leaving the ''Führerbau'', Chamberlain requested a private conference with Hitler. Hitler agreed, and the two met at Hitler's apartment in the city later that morning. Chamberlain urged restraint in the implementation of the agreement and requested that the Germans not bomb Prague if the Czechs resisted, to which Hitler seemed agreeable. Chamberlain took from his pocket a paper headed "Anglo–German Agreement", which contained three paragraphs, including a statement that the two nations considered the Munich Agreement "symbolic of the desire of our two peoples never to go to war again." According to Chamberlain, Hitler interjected "''Ja! Ja!''" ("Yes! Yes!").{{sfn|Self|2006|pp=324–25}} The two men signed the paper then and there. When, later that day, German foreign minister [[Joachim von Ribbentrop]] remonstrated with Hitler for signing it, the Führer replied, "Oh, don't take it so seriously. That piece of paper is of no further significance whatever."{{sfn|Faber|2008|p=417}} Chamberlain, on the other hand, patted his breast pocket when he returned to his hotel for lunch and said, "I've got it!"{{sfn|Self|2006|p=325}} Word leaked of the outcome of the meetings before Chamberlain's return, causing delight among many in London but gloom for Churchill and his supporters.{{sfn|Faber|2008|pp=417–18}}

Chamberlain returned to London in triumph. Large crowds mobbed Heston, where he was met by the [[Lord Chamberlain]], [[George Villiers, 6th Earl of Clarendon|the Earl of Clarendon]], who gave him a letter from [[King George VI]] assuring him of the Empire's lasting gratitude and urging him to come straight to [[Buckingham Palace]] to report.{{sfn|Faber|2008|p=5}} The streets were so packed with cheering people that it took Chamberlain an hour and a half to journey the {{convert|9|mi|km|spell=in}} from Heston to the Palace. After reporting to the King, Chamberlain and his wife appeared on the Palace balcony with the King and [[Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother|Queen]]. He then went to Downing Street; both the street and the front hall of Number 10 were packed.{{sfn|Faber|2008|pp=5–7}} As he headed upstairs to address the crowd from a first-floor window, someone called to him, "Neville, go up to the window and say 'peace for our time'."{{efn|name=Peace in our time}} Chamberlain turned around and responded, "No, I don't do that sort of thing."{{sfn|Faber|2008|pp=5–7}} Nevertheless, in his statement to the crowd, Chamberlain recalled the words of his predecessor, [[Benjamin Disraeli]], upon the latter's return from the [[Congress of Berlin]]:{{efn|name=Disraeli peace}}

{{blockquote| My good friends, this is the second time 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. Now I recommend you go home, and sleep quietly in your beds.{{sfn|Faber|2008|pp=5–7}}}}

King George issued a statement to his people, "After the magnificent efforts of the Prime Minister in the cause of peace it is my fervent hope that a new era of friendship and prosperity may be dawning among the peoples of the world."{{sfn|Faber|2008|p=420}} When the King met Duff Cooper, who resigned as First Lord of the Admiralty over the Munich Agreement, he told Cooper that he respected people who had the courage of their convictions, but could not agree with him.{{sfn|Faber|2008|p=420}} He wrote to his mother, [[Mary of Teck|Queen Mary]], that "the Prime Minister was delighted with the results of his mission, as are we all."{{sfn|Faber|2008|p=6}} She responded to her son with anger against those who spoke against Chamberlain: "He brought home peace, why can't they be grateful?"{{sfn|Faber|2008|p=420}} Most newspapers supported Chamberlain uncritically, and he received thousands of gifts, from a silver dinner service to many of his trademark umbrellas.{{sfn|Faber|2008|pp=420–21}}

The Commons discussed the Munich Agreement on 3 October. Though Cooper opened by setting forth the reasons for his resignation{{sfn|Self|2006|p=330}} and Churchill spoke harshly against the pact, no Conservative voted against the government. Only between 20 and 30 abstained, including Churchill, Eden, Cooper, and [[Harold Macmillan]].{{sfn|Faber|2008|pp=424–25}}