MANPOWER LACK

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 289, 5 September 1945, Page 7

MANPOWER LACK

Victory Brings Big

Tasks BRITISH POLICY (By Telegraph.—I J ress Assn.—Copyright.) (Received September 4, 7 p.m.) ' LONDON, September 3. Yesterday the Japanese, the last of our enemies whose , ambitions plunged the world into so much bloodshed and misery, signed the surrender terms. Thus Japan’s long course-of Imperialistic military aggression has ended, said the Prime Minister, Mr. Attlee, in a national broadcast. "\Ae should again acknowledge the debt we owe to the men of our own country and those from the Dominions, India, and the Colonies, anil from the United States, who, fighting not only against a ruthless, barbarous enemy, but also against, appalling natural conditions, brought about, this great event, "To the men of the Array, Navy and Ait Force we pay tribute, but perhaps at this time we should express intense satisfaction that at. long last the ordeal of the Chinese people is terminated. .. "Tlie Japanese action in Manchuria started a t.rain of events which culminated hi the world war. The failure to deal with this first breach of the peace destroyed the authority of the League.ot Nations, in which the generation which fought tlie. first World War put. its faith. Thia lesson that peace was indivisible and could be preserved only by resolute maintenance of tlie rule of law through the world should have been learnt in 1918. The world after then has experienced a second World War, more grievous than the first. The lesson that was not learnt in 1918 must be learnt today. "Six years ago today the sirens first sounded in London. M e wince then have known all the vicissitudes of war. The British Commonwealth from the start to file finish has been in t the war and taken its full share in every continent. We may well be proud of the eftorts ot our men and women at home and in the Dominions, India and the colonies. At no time when things were darkest has there been any failure of resolution, any whimper in tlie face of loss.

Nation Now Emerging.

“We are now emerging from those six years of waste —for, from the view-point of tlie progress of civilization, war is nothing but waste. It is true that the darkness of destruction has been illuminated by many examples of magnificent courage and selfless devotion. We have seen an unsurpassed exhibition of national unity. We have demonstrated to the world what, is the strength of free peoples. But-against this, we must set the terrible losses. We have lost many of the finest of our youth, whom we can ill spare. There is not only the private grief which desolates many homes, but also the public loss of irreplaceable human beings. We are suffering today from the loss of those who died in 1914-18. and we assuredly in the future will reel the lack of those who. perished so that civilization might continue. “We have won a great victory. We can share wholeheartedly the triumph with the Dominions and our allies, and we need yield pride of place to none in the length of endurance, in the severity of the trials we encountered aud overcame, and in the extent to which we put nt the service of humanity our resources. Rut our triumph will be empty and shortlived if we do not take to heart the lessons which our suffering has taught and the heavy responsibility that victory entails. We have seen the garnered fruits of years of toil destroyed and dispersed in a few years unless we can set on the other side gains in the progress of the human spirit and iu the growth of a new conception of human society those 1 losses will be in vain. Today more than ever before, looking back on the six years of waste and carnage, we should pledge ourselves anew to build up a world order in which all nations may dwell in security. The development of weapons of immense destructiveness, culminating in the release of the atomic bomb, has made this matter not merely desirable* but also vital for the future of civilization. “It will be our task, in the closest association with other nations, to seek to establish a world order in which war shall be ever banished.

“Our rejoicing must bo tempered with a, full realization of the gravity of the problems that confront us in the era now opening. This is no time for relaxation, tempting as this is after the years ot strain. I recognize to the full how weary are those who have borne the labour and heat of the day, but in any race it is the last lap that counts, and before xvc can rest there is much to be done. I want, therefore, to malic plain to you some of tlie responsibilities wc must shoulder. It is natural that all of us desire' tlie return as soon as possible ol the men in the armed forces. "The Governmeut is resolved to do its utmost, but 1 have never encouraged you to think that the end of hostilities would mean the immediate release of all Um men and women in the armed forces. While conditions are so unsettled in Europe wc must continue to find large forces for occupation of the British zone in Germany. The most difficult period of the occupation is likely to be the coming winter, when the inevitable shortages ol food, fuel, aud raw material will be disturbing influences. Wc must take our share in establishing, conditions iu Europe which will allow reconstruction, without violence. We have commitments iy South-east Europe, the Mediterranean ami the Middle East. These responsibilities fell on' us as victor, and our sole endeavour is to enable the will of the people to prevail to assist in the establishment everywhere of Governments resting on popular consent. It is a difficult and perhaps thankless task, but we have to perform it. Substantial Forces Needed. “There are, too, the obligations _ hi the East. Wh have to see the establishment of order in Bunna aud the other parts of tlie British Commonwealth winch were overrun by the Japanese and in which peaceful administration can be restored only by the support, if necessary, of armed force. "The occrtpation of Japan aud the restoration of the territories of ourselves and our allies xvill need substantial forces for some time to come. We must also maintain at the [U'eseiit time the garrisons of the vitaL fortresses along the network of our sea and air communications. Thcri; is in addition the responsibility of the Royal Navy for the tasks vf clearing mines and salvage and disposal of wrecks, aud there are heavy commitments for the emergency transport of men and supplies, which will be dilhcult to meet with the depleted world shipping. Thus the maintenance of adequate sea, air aud ground forces is vitally cessary if we are to fulfil our obligations to our allies and if we are to see that what has been won iu the war is not lost iu the immediate post-war period. "One of the prime diliiculties of the situation after tlie last war was the inability of the Bowers who won to provide the necessary forces tor the prevention of violent action by sectional interests pending the completion, ol tlie negotiations for world pence. AV e must not. fail the world. We bave loiight. lor democracy, and we must ensure that the conditions for its ex'vreise exist. . "AH lids reacts on our situation Here lod.'iv. Wc -pliiniied for a possible <'ontiiiiiiniee of llie Japanese war for some months, and the l'ae| that it has on'b'd before it was anticipated means a.u adjustment: but such adjustment cannot be eff'i'tod in a moment. The return of our men to civil life is. of course, helped by this event, but the full effects cannot be realised immediately. Faclorics Must Improvize.

“A detailed statement on demobilization will be made soon. Some recent statements have been too ■ optimistic; nevertheless, men and women are already being released from the forces twice as fast (is last month, and an average ot 45,000 weekly will be discharged for the rest of the year. 1 ask all the men and women who’ may have to stay to do routine duty for some time yet to be patient. We will release you as soon as possible, but don’t be apprehensive that you will bo kept longer than is absolutely lieceesary.

“Wc arc desperalely short of manpower. To meet the epiifitiuing needs ol the services tuvii aged 18 to 30 are being called up unless they arc urgently need-

ed as lu’v men hi the vital work ol rm coiistrijction. Iu particular, wc are calling up those, who are now being released from the munitions industries. "To restore employment in civilian and export manufacture and in the non-manu-facturing industries and to bring the services to the 1939 pre-war level we require an increase of about 5,000,009 workers. There need be no doubt, therefore, that there is ample room for absorbing the maximum number that can be released from the forces. The review of military requirements is being pursued with all speed. We have to consult with the Dominions and our allies and also to bear in mind the transport facilities. The workers and managements must improvise, as they did through.the war, if we are to avoid unnecessary sufI'efiug on one hand and hold our own m the world on the other.

"M'e fought n great tight. M'e gave our all for victory. Over all the hardships and dangers the lutufe may hold, by the cooperation of the people and the Government Britain will triumph.”