VICTORY CELEBRATIONS

Evening Star, Issue 25469, 27 April 1945, Page 6

VICTORY CELEBRATIONS

WARNING AGAINST PREMATURE JOY BELLS (Rec. noon.) RUGBY, April 26. Questions regarding the victory celebrations were also put to the Prime Minister, who, replying to a suggestion that irt the opinion of a great many people it would be madness to be ringing the joy bells and feasting while our fellow subjects were still under the control of Germans in the Channel Islands and people remained in the position in which they were now, Mr Churchill said:. "That is one of the reasons why I think great caution ought to be observed in any celebration. However, great events may occur, which, even if they do not affect any particular locality or point, would none the less stir the people here, and they might indulge in some few moments of rejoicing before returning to their heavy tasks."

Answering a further question whether it would not be callous to celebrate while, our men were still going out to Burma to fight, Mr Churchill said it would be a very foolish thing to celebrate and have speeches made or joy bells rung about the defeat of Germany—after all, a considerable event —without at the same time public men of every party making it perfectly clear that our war with Japan goes forward.