WAR OF PRINCIPLE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 39, 26 November 1940, Page 3

WAR OF PRINCIPLE

DEMOCRACY AGAINST TYRANNY. MR BEVIN’S BROADCAST. (United Press Association —Copyright) LONDON, November 24. The Minister for Labour (Mr Ernest Bevin), broadcasting to America, reviewed the events- which had taken place since he last spoke to United States and Canadian listeners, and recalled that at that time things appeared very black for Britain, and that all over the world many people almost seemed to have accepted the fatalistic view that nothing could withstand the German aggression. Reviewing the reasons which caused the British Government to continue the fight in spite of the disasters of (May and June, and which enabled the re-equipment of the armies and the holding off of the invaders, Mr Bevin continued: “The British ideal of govenrment is founded on freedom, compared with the Nazi conception of the rule of the superman. Virtually, then, what is being fought out in Europe at this moment is a great civil war—a war not so much between races as between' principles, and there can be no peace until one or other of these principles triumphs.-Either we must accept and bend the knee to the worship of the superman and accept his domination, or we must make the principle of democracy the fundamental basis of government. “In other words,” continued the Minister, “people must accept the dictum of their overlords, or their ruler smust he responsible to the people. It is clear, therefore, that it is not so much where this or that boundary line is drawn, but whether the armies of liberty, by their energy, initiative, skill, and determination, will fight for the rights of men, or be for ever subdued.

“I am convinced thaj; the principles for wliich we stand are going to triumph, and when the time comes to write a new peace,. these principles will have to be woven into it and made secure as the basis of government. Not merely must they be written in a peace, but stops will have to be taken so that this plant of democracy has a chance to grow and become strong in those areas where it has been allowed to wither.

“There it will have to he nurtured, strengthened, and fed, until finally it reaches a structure and self-reliance on terms of equality with the other democracies of the world.”

Common Effort Needed. Mr Bevin appealed for the co-opera-tion of all people who desired victory for the principles of -freedom. The forms of co-operation to be taken must be determined by "such people themselves, but the British Commonwealth was determined to go to the last penny and the last ounce of effort to resist aggression and to win the battle of liberty. ' , Mr Bevin asked what bettor hope coul'd be given those millions now suffering under Nazi tyranny than to let them know that the efforts of free men and women throughout the world were being continually directed towards deliverance.

He concluded: “Let them hear the resounding answer in the roar from aeroplanes built in your factories, from guns, ships, and the full resources of your production—all poured out to assist in bringing nearer that great day when free men and women can - sit round a table and say, ‘We have made a common endeavour to save the soul of mankind, and after the triumph over tlie forces of aggression have set to work to build a new world order, whose foundation shall he social security and liberty.’ “Upon that foundation the sons of men shall be given a chance to build an edifice worthy of the sacrifice that has been made to win it; which will represent a purer, higher, and nobler civilisation.” —'British Official Wireless.