EDEN’S ASSURANCE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 27 October 1941, Page 5

EDEN’S ASSURANCE

I TMOST HELP TO RUSSIA [ A COMMON CAUSE Rugby, Oct. 25. j J The Foreign Secretary, Mr Eden,'; speaking in Manchester to-day said that I everyone felt the deepest admiration for the Russians’ heroic resistance. “If you are watching every phase of this , ! struggle, so is the Government. If you ! ; I are deeply moved, so are we. We know j | only too well that the Russians are I ! bearing the burden which was ours a | year ago. You may be sure that the; | Government has done and will do ! everything in its power to help the | Russians, whose cause is our cause,” the j Minister said. “Broadly speaking, our purpose w to seek with American help to make up I to Russia by our supplies what she has lost through the German occupation of part of her industrial territory. That is an immensely formidable task, not only in production, but also in shipping. The production effort required will be enormous, but you, I feel sure, will 1 make it.” Mr Eden added, “At a time like this, i ■ when the mind of each one of us is j with the Russian armies on their! battlefronts, it is natural that some of ' vou should be tempted to ask the ques- | : lion: ‘Will the Foreign Secretary tell 1 us when and where we are going to strike, or at least that we shall strike.” "That is the point on which it is not in my power to enlighten you. But ; this I can tell you: From the first hour of the German attack on Russia the I War Cabinet and the Government as a I whole have concentrated every effort | upon the task of giving the utmost j 1 help to Russia. There has been neither 1 Hesitation nor reserve. We shall take j no action to gain transient popular >. favour, and we will dare any action j where we believe the hazards would be j justified. i! “The Government, indeed, lias but ) one purpose, which is yours and M. j. Stalin's too—how best to defeat , Hitler.” The First Lord of the Admiralty, / Mr Alexander, speaking at Kettering I to-night, said that nothing in the his- , lory of modern warfare surpassed the | gallantry and devotion that were being ! displayed by Russia’s forces, especially their grand land and air forces. “I be- j lieve in the Russian defence.” he said, j i “I believe in it because perhaps I know j Russian territory and points of the ; Russian military layout a little more ; ! intimately than some who gave me i advice. T have never had any doubt that j t the Russians would resist gallantly. | : and to the point of daily and hourly | sacrifice.” | Speaking of British aid to Russia, |Mr Alexander said, “The navy has not : | been idle. We have sent some naval equipment besides escorting convoys j destined for Russia.” He added that he had lived close day and night alongside Mr Churchill, and he not only had faith in the defence j of the Russians, but also in the Prime J Minister.—U.P.A. , BOSTON-ARCHANGEL NOT SOLE ROUTE Washington, Oct. 24. 1 The Maritime Commission in a state- , \ ment to-day said it was in error when it announced on 22nd October that all ! Russian-aid cargoes from the United j j States would go from Boston to Arch- : angel, and the announcement had been widely misinterpreted. The Commis- . sion has recently taken steps to distri- ; bute the exportation of defence materI ials through several ports to avoid ! congestion.—U.P.A.