Manawatu Evening Standard. FRIDAY, SEPT. 3, 1943. WILL CROSS THE CHANNEL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXIII, Issue 236, 3 September 1943, Page 4

Manawatu Evening Standard. FRIDAY, SEPT. 3, 1943. WILL CROSS THE CHANNEL

The fact that Mr Churchill's broadcast was arranged to follow closely upon the conclusion of the Quebec Conference inspired the belief that it would contain news of dramatic pending events. The postponement from . the original date chosen was also connected with a belief that it would announce the fall of Italy. This in fact -was the substance of an unconfirmed message from Istanbul, but while it is patent that Italy has little stomach for continuing the war Germany's hold upon the country is still so firm as to preclude an immediate surrender to the Allies. \ Mr Churchill quickly dispelled ill-founded beliefs by dealing with the war in general terms and addressing a material part of his remarks to Russia. Not for the first time has he expressed anticipation of the day when liberating armies will cross the Channel to fight the German invaders of France. That is his reply again to the second front advocates. When that hour will arrive only the United Nations' highest strategists can say, and it will be when "we are satisfied that there is a good prospect of continuing success, and that our soldiers' lives will be expended in accordance with sound military plans and not squandered to political considerations of any-kind." That is a convincing answer to those who have urged haste without considering all the implications.. Mr Churchill's justification of British and American stategy must also-find favour for the results it has achieved. Because the Quebec Conference was largely concerned with the war against Japan, with whom Russia has a pact of nonaggression, the Soviet was not invited to participate. That I was not unreasonable nor an ungracious act. It is, however, imperative that the two great democratic leaders should meet and confer with M. Stalin, who has remained aloof from their other conferences. "President Roosevelt and I will persist in oUr efforts to meet M. Stalin," Mr Churchill said. The need for such a conference is clearly apparent, for the Russian pact with Japan must certainly _ be an embarrassment to the United States and Britain when major questions of strategy have to be considered, and Mr Churchill regards as most urgent and necessary a meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the three countries to prepare the way for the fuller conference. To remove the factors that have created coolness between Russia and Britain and America is most desirable. The war has to be fought to the end that Germany and Japan will not again be able to bring the world to its present desperate condition. Peace problems will be considerable and continuing, and if the Allied victory is to be complete and the peace thereafter assured Russia must take per proper place. The Soviet's absence from Quebec will be readily understood, but not aloofness from any other conference to which she may be invited. There must also be the fullest recognition of the tremendous help given by Britain and America which has materially assisted towards the present victories in the East.