LIKE NAPOLEON!

Grey River Argus, 2 August 1940, Page 8

LIKE NAPOLEON!

HITLER DENOUNCED By Mr Leopold Amery MUSSOLINI ALSO CONDEMNED. [British Official Wireless] RUGBY, August 31. There were suggestions in Herr Hitler’s recent speech that the British insisted on prolonging an unnecessary struggle. R.t. Hon. Leopold Amery, in a speech, said: “Herr Hit-

ler’s own nature, and the system and spirit which he has created, have known no other aim or purpose than war for the sake of power, and power for the sake of more war. Like Napoleon before him, he has driven on from aggression, and from conquest to conquest till the irrestible, stubborn will of a free people brings him to an inevitable crash. Until his power is broken, there can be no true peace for us—no security for all we prize, for our freedom, for our very lives. In that sense, we are fighting for ourselve<s, but we are not fighting for' ourselves alone. Our cause is that of all nations, great or small, that are threatened, or have already been overwhelmed by brute force and lawless aggression. We are fighting for peace, not an ignominious peace which allows the aggressor to have his way unhindered till he is ready for his next attack, but a true, lasting peace, based on justice and fair dealing between nations. That has been our aim from first to last. It was the honest aim of every British Government in the years before the war. It is the aim that made us take up arms against

Germany’s wanton attack on Poland. It is the aim which we shall keep in sight to the end of the struggle, and, no less important after victory has been won. We are fighting to secure true peace for Europe, as ‘well as for ourselves. The peace that Hitler would give Europe is the peace of the desert. Where the Nazis rule, free political and religious activity is ruthlessly cut down. The living springs of free human thought are chocked. The peace we seek for Europe is the peace, not of the desert and death, but of life with its rich, infinite diversity. To make detailed plans to-day for the future of Europe is a waste of time. Victory must come first, but we can, at any rate, keep in our own hands, and convey to the world outside the spirit that sustains us in the fight, and watchwords that embody our promise. Until the other day, there were three words set like jewels in the coronet of France, whose rays had sent forth their message to the world for over 150 years—‘Liberty, equality, fraternity.’ They have been dropped in the gutter by nerveless hands into' which, for a tragic interlude, have fallen the destinies of a nation which has been for so long, and will, I trust, be again the soul and inspiration of Europe. It is for us to hold up those words once again as a torch, not for France alone, but for all Europe, and for the world. let us re-J vive them, but, in a wider sense than i that of the relations of individuals i within a community. They apply no less to rights and minorities, rigths of language and culture, of religious' or political faith. They apply to | rights of nations, great or small, in • . their relation to each other. We, too, aim at a united Europe as a solu- , tion of the rivalries and conflicts of

the past, but it is a Europe united, not by terror, but in a free, equal partnership—not a. Europe exploited' and slave-driven by a barbarian conqueror as an, instrument for fresh conquests beyond, but a Europe prosperous in mutual co-operation—a free Commonwealth held together, like our own, by common interests and by a common aim of peace and happiness for all its members. Within its borders too, as also here at home,' we look to something more than the cessation of international conflict: we look to true social peace, to better a world at home and abroad, where there may be more real economic freedom, more opportunity, apd more security for all.” Mr Amery continued that the criticism might be voiced that it was asking too much of Britain single-' handed to restore freedom to Europe. “But are we standing alone to-day?” he asked. “Canada is with us, Australia is with us, South Africa and New Zealand are with us. India, too, is with us, despite her political differences; her people are united in their detestation of the Nazi creed, and from every quarter, and from every community j)n India ;there comes most generous offers of help, while her forces are being increased as rapidly as the necessary provision 1 - of modern equipment will allow..

There is not a corner of the Empire,] however remote; not a community or, tribe, however small or poor, which, has not made a contribution in money or effort to the common cause. Men from the outer- Empire have already played a part in every theatre of war. It was the New! Zealand cruiser ‘Achilles' that took so memorable a share in. that glori-. ous encounter at the River Plate; it' was the Australian crui,ser Sydney i whose accurate gunnery knocked out a more powerful, fasten Italian cruiser; South African airmen are harassing Italians day In and day out in Abyssinia. In all the lighting over Norway and -Flanders and over our own shores, Canadian, Australian, | New Zealand and South African air-' men have played a conspicuous part, and there are thousands more to

come. At this moment, contingents from every Dominion and from India are here ready to do their bit in guarding the heart of the Empire. In the background, with us in thought and feeling, though not directly engaged in conflict, stands America. We do not ask her to fight our battle,

even if we may think that, in a 1 sense, it is her battle, too. If blood be the price of liberty, we are pre-] pared to pay our own way, but we, know that America, if not a belliger-' ent, is something more than a cold,' disinterested spectator. We look to her to allow 'us to draw upon her amazing resources, skill, and energy tc supplement our material deficiencies, and we shall not look in vain, i “I have spoken as if we had only one enemy, Hitler; but I must not forget his accomplice his henchman, his cabin-boy in his pirate ship, Mussolini. He took care only to join in battle when he thought all was over bar the shouting and the share-out, but it is not all over. It is only just

beginning, and I venture to think that if he was the last to join in, he will be the first to wish to get out — if Hitler allows it—and that, when it comes to sharing out, he may find himself in the position, not of a recipient, but of a. contributor. He has offered great hostages to fortune] in Abyssinia, in Libya, and else-, where. Whatever initial advantages' he may gain, whatever prizes he may get into his hand for a while, in the end he will have to forfeit all his stakes.”