“UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER”

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 October 1944, Page 7

“UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER”

MR.' CHURCHILL QUESTIONED. RUGBY, October 25. The situation in Hungary, the .somewhat ambiguous position of Bulgaria with regard to the United Nations, and the .Allied policy towards Germany were all subjects of inquiry in the Commons on Wednesday. The Minister of State (Mr. Law) replied that he was not in a position to make a statement on Hungary at the present moment. As regards Bulgaria, he said no armistice had yet been concluded, and that technically a state of hostilities still existed. The terms were under consideration by the Governments concerned, and it was hoped there would be no long delay. The Prime Minister was asked if unconditional surrender was still the policy of the British Government and the United Nations, and how this policy was reconciled with the system by which former enemies had. under military pressure, changed sides and -were now apparently Allies.

Mr. Churchill replied: “Unconditional surrender in the sense of no bargaining with the enemy is still the policy of the Government.” He added that the three-Power declaration of May 12 to the Axis satellites should also be borne in mind.

The declaration referred to by Mr. Churchill was issued by the three major Powers on the eve of their grand assault on • Germany. They warned Hungary, Rumania and Finland to change sides while there was yet time, or take the consequences. While they could not escape the responsibilities of having taken part in the war at the side of Germany, the longer they continued at war in collaboration with Germany the more disastrous would be the consequences to them and the more rigorous the terms to be imposed on them.