KING THANKS EMPIRE

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25377, 27 December 1947, Page 7

KING THANKS EMPIRE

Assistance Given To Britain

CHRISTMAS DAY BROADCAST (N.Z.P.A.—Reuter—Copyright) LONDON, December 25. “It is in a spirit of thankfulness and hope that the Queen and I send our Christmas greetings to my peoples of the Commonwealth and Empire,’'’ said His Majesty, the King, in a Christmas Day broadcast from his study at Sandringham House, to his people throughout the Empire. “Our memories would indeed be short if we had already forgotten to be thankful for our deliverance from the greatest peril that ever threatened our beloved land, and we would be showing ourselves unworthy of what we achieved if we doubted our power and will to win through now. We look across the sea and do not have to seek our reasons for thankfulness and hope, because they are manifest. “The unity and steadfastness of the British Commonwealth and Empire saved the liberties of the world. The friendly sympathetic policies of the Governments of the great Dominions, infinite kindness shown by their peoples in countless gifts to Britain’s homes—these things show us that the great British family of nations is still a great family of the heart. I am sure I am speaking for all Eritons in the Old Country when. I say to my peoples overseas that we are profoundly moved by the understanding and generosity you have shown. We would aslc you to join in our prayer that our daughter and her husband will continue to deserve and enjoy the love of all British peoples. “The third Christmas Day since the war ended finds the British people still praying that the time may come when true peace will be established throughout the world; when all men will be working together with goodwill to rebuild what has been destroyed; l when everywhere fear will give place to trust, hardships to well-being, and scarcity to plenty. “We cannot escape the fact that six years of terror and devastation must leave behind them material and spiritual devastation which cannot be repaired in a year or two. To rebuild ruined cities is a long, toilsome task. Even more arduous is the labour of re-establishing trust and friendliness in hearts long embittered by fear and hate. “We Shall Succeed” “Here at home the greatness of our contribution to victory is the measure of our present difficulties.. When we, with our brethren overseas, stood alone in defence of freedom, we did not count the cost. We threw in all we had. We have to create afresh resources that we then poured out, and to deny ourselves while doing so, but no one remembering 1940 - can doubt that we shall succeed, and no one can doubt that we are all doing our level best to ensure success.

“The .years that have passed since the war have brought their disappointments, but they have also shown that the same spirit of brotherhood still burns brightly. It did not flicker nor grow dim when victory unloosed the bonds that held the people together in a common purpose. “To the Queen and myself the past year has brought a personal happiness as great as any we have ever known. Our elder daughter has married, with our blessing, the man she loves, and one whom we love. too. We were greatly touched by the demonstration of delight that has been given by our peoples.” The King conveyed his greetings to the forces serving overseas, and thanked them fui their “patience and fortitude.” He added a prayer that the spirit of goodwill which emanated from happy homes would, in the fullness of time, change the face of the world.