FLAG DAY IN U.S.

Grey River Argus, 15 June 1942, Page 4

FLAG DAY IN U.S.

ROOSEVELT’S SPEECH

The Four Freedoms

(Rec. 11.49) WASHINGTON. June 14. President Roosevelt in a United Nations Day broadcast said: “To-day Flag Day, we celebrate th,? declaration of the United Nations. To-day the Republic of Mexico,- Commonwealth of the Philippines ioin us. We welcome these variant peoples into the company of those fighting I for freedom. Belief in the four j freedoms of common humanity, Belief in man created free in the image of God is the crucial difference between ourselves and the enemies we face. In it lies absolute unity. Our alliance here is our str-ngth, the source and promise of victory. We ask the Germans whether they would rather have the mechanised hyU of Hitler’s new order, or freedom of speech and of religion, freedom from want and from fear. We the ‘ Japanese whether thev would rather continue in slavery and blood or have in place thereof the fourfreedoms. We ask the- bra-'e unconquered people of nations which, the Axis invaders have desnolied and dishonoured, whether they would rather yield to their conquerors or have the four freedoms. We know the answer. We know that man. born to freedom in the image of God, will not forever suffer the oppressor’s sword. The people of the United Nations are taking that sword from the onpressor’s hands. With it j they will destroy the tyrants.” GREATEST PARADE IN U.S. HISTORY. (Rec. 11.49.) NEW YORK. June 13. The greatest parade in American history. “New York at War.” marched for twelve hours along Fifth Avenue where an unprecedented crowd of two millions incessantly cheered. Floats depicted the United Nations’ fighting forces and outstanding war episodes..

IN AUSTRALIA

Message from McArthur REFERENCE TO CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES. i ■ (Special.) (Rec. 8.45.) SYDNEY, June 14. United Nations Flag Day was observed in Australia with special serv.ces at all churches. Mr. Curtin said that by fittingly celebrating the Day, Australians were showing their resolve to win this war completely and build a peace which would give security to all and establish international relations (economic, political, and legal), on a sure foundation. A message from General MacArthur read in all churches said: “Two thousand years ago' a Man dared to stand for truth and freedom of the human spirit, and was' crucified and died. Yet His death was not the end, but only the beginning, to be followed by the resurrection and the life. For twenty centuries the story of the' Man of Galilee served for al Christians as a symbol. So to-day, when our churches stress the spiritual significance of our united efforts to re-establish the supremacy of our Christian principles, we can humoly and without presumption declare our faith and confidence, with God”s hem in our own final victory.” Flag Day followed Saturday’s observance of MacArthur Day. the forty-third anniversary of the clay when General MacArthur entered West Point Military Academy. In a special message to America on this dav General MacArthur said: “The fortuitous circumstance that the day on which I entered service of my beloved country should have been the one selected to focus this real patriotic outpouring of freemen on the march fills me with humble thanksgiving. I ask that each participant, say a simple and silent prayer that the merciful God may guide our steps.’’ Mr. Curtin and Mr. Forde (Arm? Minister), both paid a tribute to General MacArthur: “Were these times of peace the United States could have no more popular Ambassador here than this soldier,” commented Mr. Curtin. . - ■ '

Churchill’s Message

VOICE JOINED WITH ROOSEVELT.

(Fee. 12.45) LONDON, June 14. Mr Churchill in a United Nations Day message stated: In proclamation to the Americans our great friend President Roosevelt reminded them that for many years it had been ar. American custom to set aside J’une 14 to honour their flag, the emblem of their freedom, strength, and unity as an independent nation under God. He told them that as a nation they were fighting not alone, but shoulder to shoulder with the valiant peoples of the United Nations, the massed, angered forces of common humanity, and he asked them that on their Flag Day on June 14 they should honour, not only their own colours, but the flags, and, through the flags, the peoples of the United Nations. Apart from the United Kingdom these are the peop’c whose names to-day make up that great roll of honour —the United states, Russia, China, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, ueigium, Costa Rica, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, the Dominican Republic, Salvador, Free France, Greece, India, Guatemala. Haiti, Honduras, Luxemboiirgh, Mexico, the Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Poland and Yugoslavia. “I join my voice to President Roosevelt’s in honouring to-day the forces of United Nations. Let us pay this tribute to the valour and sacrifice of those who have fallen and to the courage and endurance of those who fight to-day. Let us remember everyone, man, woman and child, who,' in oppressed and tortured countries, works for the day of liberation that is coming. In this ceremony we pledge each to the other not merely support and succour till victory comes, but that wider understanding, that quickened sense 1 ot human sympathy, that recognition of common purpose, without which the suffering and striving of the United Nations could not achieve its full reward.”