Western Nations Could Defeat Any Aggressor

Northern Advocate, 16 July 1949, Page 5

Western Nations Could Defeat Any Aggressor

Montgomery Speaks As Christian Soldier

THE HAGUE, Fri. (11 a.m.) —The united strength of the Western Union nations could defeat any would-be aggressor, said Field-Marshal Viscount Montgomery, Western Union Defence Chief, addressing the Royal Netherlands Military Society today. “Our manpower, our technical ability, our wealth of raw materials, our potential organising ability, are jointly far greater than those of any other power, or group of powers. “I have no doubts whatever on the ability of the united strength of the Western nations to defeat any would-be' aggressor,” he said.

“However, it is necessary that each nation in the union must be ready to give up a little of its sovereignty to make the cooperation needed to withstand attack.

Field-Marshal : Montgomery listed the fundamentals of the Western way of life as:

“The enemy is Communism, which is a religion and is anti-Christian.

“As a Christian soldier I declare myself the enemy of Communism and all it stands for.

“It is my view that the nations of the West today are at war with Communism. “It is often called a cold war, but none the less, it is war.

(1) Christianity, (2> The supreme value of, the individual as opposed to the conception that he is just a pawn of the state. (3) Freedom and justice. (4) An intense desire for peace. “You will notice that I put peaca last,” he said.

“It is possible that this struggle might eventually lead us into a shooting war. PEACE A BY-PRODUCT

“That is because it is important to realise that peace is a by-product, and not a direct aim.

"This would be disastrous for the whole world.”

‘Tf made the central target it is liable to lead to appeasement.” Field-Marshal Montgomery said money spent on defence needs in peace-time was part of the premium to be paid for national insurance against war.