WAR SITUATION

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 December 1943, Page 5

WAR SITUATION

MR. EDEN’S STATEMENT

RECENT CONFERENCES REVIEWED

Allies’ Co-operation Complete

RUGBY, December 14. The Foreign Secretary (Mr Eden), opening a two-day debate in the Commons on the war situation, said he well- understood the disappointment the House would ieel that Mr Churchill was unable himself to give a first-hand account of the three conferences in which he had played a leading- part, but there was still important work for him to do m tne sphere where he now was. Mr Eden said that into three very strenuous weeks had been com pressed three conferences oi world significance, any one of which in ordinary times would have taken a month. „ . ~r . . “J. do not believe tub Prime Minister ever ardent as we know him to be for work, has ever devoted more hours a day, and alas a night, unremitting labours as during these conferences. In spite of this, 1 left him, although perhaps a little tired, in good health, stout ol heart, and most confident in spirit.” . The greater part of the first Cano and Teheran Conferences was taken up with military matters. It was possible to bring these matters to a state of completeness in collective preparation far exceeding anything hitherto possible. That was well expressed in the communique which had brought to the Allied people a me d ssage° Ug it had never before been nossible to give the Allied people. The words of the « u Jique ng sound ominously to the German leaders and those of Germany s ha |peaking a of S the Cairo , dearng with the war against Japan, Mr Eden said: “We took the opportunity to set out die Politica. V ciples for which we are lighting. Wc are committed to objectives which are set out for the first time internationally, because we understand that to destroy Germany and then make a compromise peace with, Japan would only sow the seeds oi a third world war. Even if we are compelled to devote the greater part of our resources to the task of defeating Germany we are still me principals in the Far Eastern war. Japan is just as great a menace to the British Commonwealtn as to China and the United States. We should be utterly unworthy of pur heritage if we did not at the earliest possible moment deploy all our resources to establish the security of •Australia, New Zealand and Canada on a firm basis. “At the Teheran Conference there was a welcome absence of formality. In this way all working hours and many normally devoted to sleep wei<used in discussing every topic, ine work at Teheran began where the work at Moscow left off. “As a first result

THE WAR WILL BE SHORTENED

Close co-ordination ol all our plans shows clearly that we can do bettei where there is close inter-play ol every move. We have not had that until now. In due course the decisions of the conference will be unrolled on the field of battle, but even this is not all, because victory is the means to an end —and the end is a peace that will last.” From the moment the last shot was fired the German game once again would be to sow doubt and confusion and so prepare the next challenge. The recurrent, threat of war could be met only if there was an international order firmer in strength and unity than any enemy could cnallentfe. “Six months ago I could not have given an assurance o±' complete cooperation after the war, but to-day I can give an emphatic ‘Yes.’ The foundations exist, and there is a desire among the three Powers for continued co-operation, maintaining orderly progress and conditions.” Mr Eden said he was unable to give details of the confidential discussions with the Turkish representatives, but he had good hopes that they would be found to establish a sound basis for future co-operation by Britain, Russia, the United States and Turkey. . . Regarding the Lebanese crisis, Mr Eden understood General Catrqux would return to Beirut to try to bring about a modus vivendi. He earnestly hoped the negotiations would be conducted in a conciliatory spirit on both sides and lead to an early settlement.

Mr Eden addressed a message to the people of France, whose sufferings had been harsh and cruel. “Theirs has been a long ordeal which, perhaps, but for the hazard of geography the British people might have had to share. We believe this great people, 40,000,000 strong, enriched by moral and intellectual qualities, will, find a spirit to lift them up from the heavy blows of the last four years. We believe that in the gallantry of the French forces in Tunisia and Libya and in the heroic resistance movement we have the real soul of France.”

The House cheered when Mr Eden said: “To France and all the occupied countries we have extended sympathy and confidence that we are not seeking to impose a Three-Power will on Europe. We seek to liberate the countries and to .enable each to take its place in the European family again.” ITALIAN CAMPAIGN.

Reviewing the Italian campaign, Mi-. Eden said: “The Allied advance in the last three or four months had not covered quite the spectacular distances achieved in the first two months’ fighting. This was not in any sense due to lack of initiative; we had now reached the narrowest part of the Italian Peninsula, the Appennines stretching almost from coast to coast, and where they did not swollen rivers took over. These natural features afforded exceptional facilities for successful defence, and the Germans, as the'y were forced relentlessly back, were making extremely good use of those defences. Added to this was the heavy and persistent rain which had swollen every river and made everywhere a sea of mud.

“On November 8, after a surprise airborne attack on Termoli, the Sth J Army had pressed on and secured a bridgehead over the Trigno, while the left Hank was working up through the Appennines. Meanwhile General Clarke’s Anglo-American sth Army had crossed the Volturno and fought its way slowly forward to the next great river obstacle. By a lightning thrust most characteristic of him, General Montgomery had swept the Germans back across the Sangro and the whole of the rest of his line had moved forward. At the same time the whole of the sth Army had kept pace in the Western Appenines. “It was just then, when the Commanders felt the campaign was developing as they wished, that we had another deluge and steadily worsening weather which called a halt along the whole group of armies. Time was spent building up supplies, preparing bridges and roads. and getting ready for'the next offensive. A soell of fine weather at last came on the’ night of November 27.

“The Bth Army, further strengthened by the arrival of the

SECOND NEW ZEALAND DIVISION,

that most gallant, veteran division, were able then to launch their main assault. The attack was preceded by a shattering bombardment, and with the full support of the 78th Division and the Sth Indian Division, secured Posseacesia Ridge. Down came the rain again, and still the troops fought grimly on, as they are doing now, to the Moro and beyond, while the Canadians have now relieved the 78th Division and are pressing on towards Ortona. Inland, the New Zealand Division is trying to gain high ground which will help the Canadians. “Meanwhile the sth Army began the battle for the Mignano Gap. There was a struggle to secure these mountain features, and the enemy had plenty ot time ip prepare formidable defences. Thanks to the gallantry of the Allied infantry all the more important hill features are now m our hands and it seems the Germans must be forced to withdraw further to positions covering Cassino. Great battles are impending for this effort and we shall need all our strength, courage, and unity in greater measure perhaps than ever before.” Mr. Eden said the casualties from the landing in Italy to November 23 for the British were 3212 killed,. 9709 wounded and 3153 missing. American casualties to November 24 were 1603 killed, 6361 wounded and 2685 missing. Just over 6000 German prisoners had been taken.

JUGOSLAV DEVELOPMENTS.

The resistance movements in Jugoslavia and Greece were the subject of a statement by Mr. Eden. He said there was no little internal confusion and conflict. “German propaganda is trying to increase confusion and spread false reports about our intentions and trying to divide us irom our Allies. We should use all possible restraint and, above all, not fight our own elections in these Balkan lands. I have tried to apply three rules: First, give all the help in our power to those elements in those countries actively resisting the enemy. Secondly, make it clear that so far as we can exercise any authority it shall be be free to choose their own government when liberated. Thirdly, work in the closest possible concert with our Allies. For many montns past the head and front of the resistance in Jugoslavia have been the Partisans, under Tito. These are containing and engaging a large number of German divisions, and we are doing all we can to supply them with munitions and support them in eveiy possible way. Our action', of course, has been endorsed by our Allies, meluding the Soviet and United. States Governments. We decided in the Spring of this year we would ask 'Tito to receive a British military mission. He replied ‘Yes,’ and British officers have been with him evei Sll “The Prime Minister and I and Mr. Molotov agreed that the two missions shall work together in close collaboration. Since I left Teheran a Supreme Legislative Committee and an Executive’ National Committee ot Liberation have been set up under the auspices of the Commander-in-Chief, Partisan Forces. It does not claim' authority outside the area in which it operates, or any form of recognition from our Government. The Partisans have emphasised the provisional nature this Adm tration, and they that it is fo the Jugoslav people, when liberated, freely to choose the form oi government they prefer. . That is also OUI view, and the desire of King Peter himself and the policy ol his Governin’ Cairo Mr. Churchill and I devoted no little time to the Jugoslav situation, and m col Tl unct J, ol } wp Allies decided to do whatever we could to bring together al those n Jugoslavia and outside who want to fight against the Germans. . “In Greece the position is not on all fours with the position m Jugoslavia. There are warring bands all in different degrees hostile to the Germans, and political controversies which cut right across This mattei• J is our aim to unite all, o aff in a common action against the enemy. We have ?°nie hope of a measure oi success in that. -Lue cent publication by the King of the Hellenes to his Government last November shows clearly his mtentio to make his contribution so his position shall not be a. matter of con troversv or stand in the way unity. 5 I hope |/e shall succeed, and I do not think the task easy.. Mr. A. Greenwood, following Mi. Fden declared that no meeting at Versailles was so pregnant with value and importance for the future ; a > the conversations at Moscow, leheian and in Egypt. The .Teheran declaiation was a continuation of the Atlan * Mr Greenwood said that if Britain, Russia, and America from now onwards gave their minds and heaitsto living together to establish the fut ure it would be the greatest guarantee of the future peace and prosperity of the world. Mr Vernon Bartlett thought it was impossible to exaggerate the extent to which the smaller countries looked to Britain. They had had enough dictatorship and wanted to get back to some democratic system, and looked to Britain to continue to give them a lead.

MR EDEN’S TRAVELS

RUGBY, December 13. Mr Eden, according to Press statements, has travelled 23,500 miles in the past two months in attending conferences at Cairo (on four separate occasions), Moscow and Teheran. Mr Eden’s journey to Moscow and back involved travelling 13,500 miles, and to Teheran and back 10,000.