DEVOTED EFFORT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 276, 4 September 1939, Page 6

DEVOTED EFFORT

TASK FOR BRITISH PEOPLE. NEW ZEALAND SHARES BURDEN. BROADCAST BY MR FRASER. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. “It remains for the people of the British Nations now to show that we have, faith in our case and a .readiness to back our cause by self-sacrifice and devoted effort,” declared the ActingPrime Minister (the Hon. P. Fraser) in a broadcast address at 71 a.m., in which he repeated the assurance that Britain had the whole-hearted support of New Zealand in the present crisis. “The calamity which all of us hoped against hope would bo averted has fallen upon the world. The British Commonwealth of Nations is at war with Germany. Those who heard Mr Chamberlain’s solemn and moving statement to the people of the British Commonwealth from the Cabinet room in No. 10 Downing Street, must have been deeply moved by his fateful words. “The British Government did everything it possibly could to avoid war and to bring about a peaceful solution to the dispute between Poland and Germany, even in this dark houfr the people of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions can say in all sincerity and in purity of heart that they harbour no feelings of bitterness or hatred toward the people of Germany. The attitude of the British Govern-, ment to the rulers of Germany has been both friendly and frank. In the name of the British peole they extended the hand of friendship to the German people, while, making plain their intention to stand firmly by their pledge to Poland. “The. rulers of Germany rejected Britain’s outstretched hand of friendship and even while negotiations and efforts for preserving peace were still in progress engaged in deliberate and indefensible. acts of aggression against Poland which, if persisted in, were bound to result in the tragedy of war between Great Britain and themselves. “With full knowledge of the dread probability Herr Hitler and his associates relentlessly and cynically proceeded with their Policy of ruthless aggression and plunged the people of four great nations into wiar and bloodshed. For years Great Bi*itain has made many concessions and many sacrifices in the cause of peace. “The peoples of the Commonwealth have willingly shared in those sacrifices and I am sure that in the days ahead they wil.l make even greater sacrifices and will demonstrate their loytlty to those democratic ideals which are the fundamental principles of the British Commonwealth of Nations.”

“On every possible occasion in the Council and Assembly of League of Nations and elsewhere New Zealand has proclaimed her faith in non-aggression in the peaceful settlement of disputes between nations, and in a world peace based upon the principle of human brotherhood, fair dealing and international righteousnevss. New Zealand proclaims her faith in those principles to-day, in the hour of trial and danger as steadfastly as ever before and will stand firmly with the United Kingdom in helping to resist the aggressor, whose victorv would mean the triumph of violence and trampling underfoot of all that we hold dear and have striven for. In relationships between nations we cannot depart fro mthe principles of freedom and justice in international affairs. If we do not stand by those ideals our civilisation will collapse and crumble into dust.” “Because the Democracies have not been actuated by warlike ideals and by aggressive, intentions, the Nazi Party in Germany, and Herr Hitler in particular, led themselves apparently to believe that peace-loving nations would abandon their principles before they would resist . Despite appeals to reason and statements that Britain and Franco would adhere to their pledged word and defend the right their firm intentions were disbelieved. It remains for the people of the British nations now to show that we have faith in our case and a readiness to- back our cause by self-sacrifice and devoted effort.

“I am able to assure the people of the Dominion that every possible! preparation has been made to guard our shores and to face the conflict that now unfortunately confronts us. Steps will be taken under regulations just gazetted to prevent the exploitation and profiteering in the hour of our country’s trial and to safeguard the welfare and liberties of our people as well as to maintain, the social and economic progress achieved. The whole of the Commonwealth has undertaken measures to this end, and, as announced we in New Zealand have not been lacking in this respect. “In Great Britain, as you all know, tremendous efforts have been made and the British people can face the future with every confidence, no matter how great and tragic the tasks that lie ahead. The success of this country’s effort is of course dependent upon the people’s 'will and upon the r>eople themselves. Everyone, every man and every woihan, must play his and her part, and we know that they will. “The Government of New Zealand has assured the Motherland of its whole-hearted support in a message published in the Press, and which will be broadcast. We address ourselves with sad hearts but with firm determination to the immediate task in hand — the task of rallying all forces and resources of our land so that we can stand side by side with the United Kingdom and other nations of the British Commonwealth in their struggle for international righteousness. 1 “The conflict is between international friendship and international brute force, between reason and ruthlessness between democracy and despotism. Not in anger but in sorrow, not in lightheartedness but with heavy hearts, not in hatred hut with a grave sense of great responsibility to mankind and to the future of humanity, not in malice and revenge but with a prayer fo/r peace on our lips, the British people to-day dedicate themselves to the work of overthrowing the oppressor and freeing the peoples of the earth from bondage and slavery to ruthless and cruel tyranny. That the conflict will be brief, that reason-ill reassert itself, that justice will speedily triumph, that the sword which has been drawn so ruthlessly will be rapidly returned to its scabbard and that soon, peace will prevail and righteousness reign, must be the fervent prayer of all.”,