The Dominion. TUESDAY, JUNE 24, 1941. A SAGACIOUS DECLARATION

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 229, 24 June 1941, Page 6

The Dominion. TUESDAY, JUNE 24, 1941. A SAGACIOUS DECLARATION

Mr. Churchill’s speech on the Russo-German conflict will prob ably rank as his most sagacious deliverance since the outbreak of th war. He might reasonably and with justification have declared • policy of aloofness, citing in support Soviet actions in the past, am especially its refusal of British co-operation against Nazi aggressioi which was offered on the eve of the war. But he has taken flu larger and longer view. He has concentrated on the single vital issue that matters not only to the Russian people, but also to the whole of the civilized world—the destruction of Nazi gangsterism. Without prejudice to settled principles and opposite opinions he has waived al other considerations to make common cause against the commo: enemy. British policy in this new development is based on a plain an< simple formula: He who is against Hitler is with us; he who is. tOi him is against us. The brief succinct paragraph in which the Bntisi Prime Minister has demolished all side issues rallies the victims o’ aggression and others living under the threat of it to a general pur pose for which no argument is needed —the destruction of the Hitki gang and everything it stands for. The statement deserves specia prominence as a clear-cut historic declaration - Any man or State who tights against Nazidom (said Mr. Churchill) will have our aid. Any man or State who marches with Hitler is our foe. This is our policy, and this is our declaration. It follows, therefore, that we shall give whatever help we can to Russia and to the Russian people. We haveoffered to the Government of the Soviet Union any technical and economic assistance which Is in our power. This statement provides an impressive example of Mr. Churchill’s genius for grasping the vital essentials, and it has a moral for ouiselves. This, .as the British leader emphasizes, is no class war It is a war in which the whole British Empire and Commonwealth cf Nations is engaged ‘‘without distinction of race, creed or partv., fust as between Britain and Russia, the greater issue transcends ail others, so in this country all side issues, partv and sectional differences should be subordinated to a united war effort, “It is to be hoped the moral will be taken to heart. From now on there should be one issue only, one cause, one aim—the defeat of Germanv and the complete and utter destruction of Hitlerism. If we fail in this we shall be faced with the alternative of a total blackout of civilization as we know it.