New Foundations

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 264, 4 August 1944, Page 5

New Foundations

Mr. Churchill continued': “I now approach, not without natural anxiety, a delicate subject—foreign affairs. I still hold the view that as the war enters its final phase it is becoming, and will become, increasingly less ideological. Confusion was caused in some minds by the mixing up ideology with idealism, whereas there is in fact quite a notable difference. While we cherish idealism as a cheerful light playing over the hearts of men and inspiring noble deeds, ideology too often presents itself as regimented ideas and may be too often incompatible with freedom. “I rejoice to see the Fascist ideology overthrown, and look forward to itscornplete extirpation in Italy. I rejoice that the Nazi ideology, enforced in heavier manner on a vast population, will presently be beaten to the ground. These facts and manifestations which I see taking place continually as the world war rushes onward to its close make me increasingly confident that when the aggressive Nazi and Fascist systems have been laid 1 low and every precaution has been taken- against their ever rising again? there may arise a new brotherhood among men which will not be based upon crude ideologies but on the simple ideals of peace, justice and freedom. “Therefore. I am glad it has become -less an ideological war between rival systems and more aud ’more a means by which high ideals and solid happiness may be achieved by the broad masses inmany lands and ultimate!/ in all.” France’s Coming Strength.

Mr. Churchill continued 1 : “For 40 years I have been a consistent friend of France and of her brave army. All my life I have been grateful for the contribution France has made to culture and glory and, above all, to the sense of personal liberty and the rights of man, all of which radiated 1 ' from the soil of France. These are no matters of sentiment or personal feeling. It is one of the main interests of Britain that a friendly France should' regain- and hold her place among the major Powers of Europe and the world.” We should once again have to deal with the problems of France and Germany along the Rhine, and France, could not be excluded from that discussion. He looked forward to the closest association of British Empire, United States, Russian, and French representatives in the settlement of this important. European problem. We must not fail in the hour of victory to make the arrangements necessary to continue- to use the peace we. should have so dearly bought. Speaking of unusual complexities which attended foreign policy, the Prime Minister said we had consulted with the Dominions and the three great Powers who were our valiant and trusted allies. He. had said before that if the heads of the three Governments could meet once a month round the table there were no problems which could not be. solved between them. The three principal. Allies had to deal day to day with all kinds of burning issues arising in the eight or 10 vanquished, occupied or neutral States, two or three of which hud quite healthy civil wars of their own in prospect or in progress.

When he surveyed all the complexities he thought the Governments of the United States, Russia and Britain had done pretty well, but great patience and an unceasing desire for understanding with each oilier was necessary between the great Powers. The Commons would help by taking a broad and tolerant view. Helpful Moment.’

Mr. Churchill said this was in his opinion a helpful moment for Poland, for whose rights and independence we had entered the war against Germany. We had done our best, with others, to persuade ,and promote the visit of M. MikoInjczylc and other members of his Cabinet to Moscow, where Premier Stalin was ready to receive them. Mr. Roosevelt was also favourable. Russian armies now stood before the gates of Warsaw, bringing (be liberation of Poland in their hands. They offered freedom, sovereignty and independence and asked that Poland should have friendly relations with Russia. This seemed very reasonable in view of what Russia had suffered from the Germans in crossing Poland to attack them. The Allies would welcome any general rally or fusion of all the Polish forces. Jiotli those working with tlie western Powers and those with the Soviet Union. Let them come together. It would he a marvellous thing if fusion could be attained when the famous capital, which had so valiantly defended itself against the invader, had been liberated by the bravery of the Russian armies. Conditions in Yugoslavia had sensjbl.v improved since he last spoke. The King of Yugoslavia had gathered round him a Government which was in friendly contact with Marshal Tito. We were working for unity in Yugoslavia. Dealing with Greece. Mr. Churchill said we had lost about 30.000 men in Greece and had unbreakable ties with that historic land. 'l'he Government, of M. Papandreou was broadly representative of all the main forces iu Greece. He added: ’’This new figure who has sprung upon thi' stage seems to recall in many ways the vigour and courage which once we acclaimed in the great personality, of Venczelos. whose son is also in the Greek Government.”

Of Romani,-i. Mr. Churchill said that she must primarily make her terms with Russia. Russia had offered generous terms, and no doubt they would he accepted with gratitude if the Rumanian leaders had not' had Nazi automatic pistols held at their breasts and the napes of their necks. The same was true of Bulgaria. There seemed to be available in that country loaders, who generation after generation, had brought their people in on the wrong side. 'l’h s was the third lime a miserable sei of criminal politicians had brought the Bulgarian peasant population into war. For Bulgaria, also, (he moment of repentance was not past, but it was passing swiftly. 'l’be whole of Europe was sliding swiftly into new and secure foundations. •Mr. Churchill said we welcomed with

satisfaction the arrival of a finely-equip-ped expeditionary force in the Mediterranean from Brazil, and added that we must all also feel deep regret and anxiety that Argentine, in this testing time for nations, should not have seen fit to declare herself wholeheartedly and unmistakably with no qualification on the side of freedom, but had chosen to dally witn evil and with the losing side. Promise to Turkey. Speaking next of Turkey, Mr. Churchill stated that wc must uot forget she had‘’declared her alliance with us before the present war, when our armaments wore weak and our policy was pacific. The German power was now fulling, and with the advance of Russia and the contributions we had made he felt the lurks were now in a stronger position than they ever had been since the war began. The breach of all relations with Germany infused a new life into the Anglo-lurk-ish alliance. “No one can tell whether Germany or Bulgaria will attack Turkov If so we shall be at common cause with her.'’ he said. “IVe shall take on the German menace as well as we can in our stride. No one can expect to enter this conflict and not suffer. Turkish cities way be bombed. Von Pnpen may lie sent back to Germany to meet the blood bath he so narrowly escaped nt Hitler s Imnds in 193-1.” At present. Mr. Churchill ; said, no speech by prominent politicians was complete'without a full exposition of the future organization of the world. lie <mmmented: "Ono of my difficulties is Hint it docs not rest with me to lay down the law without consulting our allies. Odd as. it. may seem, such countries as America and Soviet Russia might wish to have their say in the matter. And they might not look at it the same way or express their say in the matte'; in the same terms as would, gain the largest applause in this IJonse.”

Could we not be content, he asked, with the declaration that there was to be a world council to preserve peace wlucli would be in the first instance formed and guided bv the major Powers, and in which eventually all nations would lie able to plav their part? Il would lie vain and idle for anv one country to try Jo lay down tile liiw on this subject, or to tri- to lay down frontiers or describe instruments by which these frontiers would be maintained without further bloodshed.

Mr. Churchill declared: "Not only are once-proud armies being beaten back on every front by every one of the many nations in lighting contact with them, but in the homeland of Germany tremendous events have occurred which must shock to the foundations the confidence of their peoples and the loyalty of their armies. 'l’be highest personalities of the German Reich arc murdering one another, or, trying to.’while the avenging armies of the Allies are closing upon the doomed and ever-mirrowing circle of their enemy. But. potent as may be these manifestations of internal disease, and decisive even as they may be one of (hose days, if is not. in them that we should put our trust but in our own strong arms and the justice of out cause.”