FITTED TO BE CHAMPIONS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 29 September 1943, Page 2

FITTED TO BE CHAMPIONS

But can it really be true that this tiny spot of land upon the world’s surface can really have been the core and centre of resistance against the greatest military power that the world has ever known? Can it really be true that the people of Britain, who number only half the population of Germany, who are peaceable people, civilian people, and not trained in the arts of war—can it be really true that these people in the moment of world danger were able, first to take upon themselves this enormous burden, and thereafter to become the centre of so vast an alliance? Had I asked myself these questions I should have answered, “Yes . . . these things are true.” . Why are they true? I do not pretend for one moment that the British people are stronger or cleverer than the other peoples of the world. I am well aware that, without the heroic strength of China, without the massive brilliance of Russia’s military achievement, without the generous aid and overwhelming force of the U.S.A., this little island, even with the wholehearted support of the Dominions and colonies, could not have withstood for many years longer the organised fury of the Axis, and could never have hoped, as we can now hope with certainty. to bring down the twin monsters of German and Japanese militarism to their knees. But, although I do not claim that we as a people have such genius for battle that we can conquer all the nations of the world, I do believe that we possess certain great virtures which, in time of danger, fit us to become the champions of world freedom and the centre of resistance against the enemies of mankind.— (Mr Harold Nicholson, M.P., celebrated English author and critic, in “Sydney Morning Herald”).