AGAINST COMMON FOE

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23494, 24 November 1941, Page 9

AGAINST COMMON FOE

♦ BRITISH AND SOVIET PEOPLES MESSAGES FROM TWO AMBASSADORS (8.0. W.) RUGBY. November 22. Messages from the Russian Ambassador (M. Maisky) and the British Ambassador in Moscow (Sir Stafford Cripps) were read at the opening of the Bristol “Aid to Russia” Week today. Sir Stafford Cripps wrote: "The understanding and friendship between the peoples of Great Britain and the Soviet Union, based upon an appreciation of each other’s hopes and ideals, are sure guarantees of victory in the war, and of what may prove even more important in the long run, of a successful outcome to the peace. “In the past we have had many discussions upon the political and economic merits of the Soviet system, and I well remember the limes when feeling ran high and bitter things were said on this subject. Now all that is past. Our differences have been buried by Hitler deep beneath our common hatred of his Nazi domination. The Soviet people do not ask us to accept their political beliefs, but they recognise in us, as w.e appreciate in them, the stubborn and heroic determination to prevent the world from being destroyed by the bestial brutes of Nazism. Out of this common, reality of liberty comes mutual respect and sympathy strengthened by sufferings snared in the cause of the future liberty and happiness of all mankind. Here in this very town each day brings home the tragic grandeur of the sacrifices that are being made hourly by the Soviet people. I feel the intensity of the need for our most active and immediate help. Already the enormous casualties that have been inflicted upon the Germans at the cost of hundreds of thousands of Soviet lives, of great industrial destruction, and of very large territorial losses, have begun to sap the vitals of Hitler’s armies. We must help the Soviet people to push this advantage home until the moment when we can together assume the initiative and drive the German hordes back from the gates of Moscow as Napoleon was driven back a century ago. “To make the most of our alliance, we must learn to know one another’s merits. As I hope we are to share with the Soviet people the task of building a new Europe and a new world of peace after our victory, we must gain a mutual understanding of one another's aims and purposes. I welcome every step taken in Great Britain to deepen the comradeship between the two peoples and to increase the drive for Immediate aid to fhe Soviet people.” The message from M. Maisky said: "Our common foe is strong, and we must face the fact that it will take a long time and hard effort to smash completely the Nazi war machine, but it must be done, and it will be done. Victory will be won all the sooner if the closest possible collaboration is maintained between our two countries and that is why I welcome the efforts of all those who are doing so much to strengthen the bonds between the Soviet and British peoples.” f