GLOWING TRIBUTE

Evening Star, Issue 25565, 18 August 1945, Page 7

GLOWING TRIBUTE

M CHURCHILL'S LEADERSHIP ONE OF MAIN ARCHITECTS OF VICTORY LONDON, August 16. A glowing tribute to Mr Winston Churchill was paid in the House of. Commons by Mr C. R. Attlee, who said that the election —which was not of Labour's seeking—had resulted in Mr Churchill being placed in the Opposition at the time when the fruits of his long leadership were being garnered. He had been one of the main architects of victory, said Mr Attlee, who added that he believed he was expressing the views of the

whole House in acknowledging Mr Churchill's transcendent services to his country, the Commonwealth and

the world. The nation had found in its darkest hours' a man who had expressed supremely the courage and determination never to yield which had animated all British men and women. Although Mr Churchill was no longer Prime Minister, when final victory, came it was really the outcome of the iplans made under his .leadership. History would link Mr Churchill's name with that of President Roosevelt, whose service to the cause of freedom was unforgettable.

Mr Attlee stated that he also wanted to pay tribute to the great contribution made by all the peoples of the British Commonwealth and Empire, Russia, America, and China. It had been the steadfastness, courage, and sense of duty of the world's ordinary citizens which had saved civilisation. He added that all parties must unite on a foreign affairs policy. Great Britain did not seek any advantage from war. She desired to he*al the wounds of conflict and allow people the right to live in peace and! security. She wanted freedom, but there were limitations in the amount of interference that Great Britain could make in the internal affairs of other States. Mr Attlee said that demobilisation would be speeded up. More than 1,000,000 people would be released from the manufacture of munitions within the next six weeks, but it would be madness to abandon the financial and economic controls which had served so well during the war. While everything (possible would be done to increase the erection of houses, nothing could be done which could substantially alleviate the problem this winter. The release of 1,000,000 people from munitions and industries would be bound to bring difficulties, while the total demand foi; labour would for some time exceed the', supply. Local temporary unemployment i would be inevitable, Mr Attlee said that Great Britain would be faced with two great dangers—inflation and unemployment. The Government had resolved there should be no inflation, and was determined that there would continue to be' a fair and equitable sharing of all resources. The' sudden victory against Japan had enhanced the danger of unemployment.. " We are living ia times when great changes are due," said the Prime Minister. "Great Britain expects, much from this House. Ido not think it will be disappointed. lam not asking for indulgence, as all Governments deserve criticism and ought to profit by it, but during the critical period we shall require the continuance of something of the spirit that won the war, and we must not allow private or sectional interests to obscure the interests of all, or the love which we. have for our native land and our people."