THE BRITISH WAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25015, 8 September 1942, Page 3

THE BRITISH WAY

PRAISE FOR OTHERS OWN EFFORTS DEPRECIATED RUGBY, Sept. 6. In a review of British achievements in the war and aims for the future, the Dominions Secretary, Mr C. R, Attlee, said the third anniversary of the outbreak had been observed rightly as a day of prayer, but he also considered it should have been for all a day of thanksgiving because we had been brought so far in safety through so many perils. We were inclined at times, he said, to do ourselves less than justice in the eyes of the world. We had a national habit of depreciating our own efforts and praising those of others. The British to-day were regarded rightly as the rock upon which other peoples less fortunate could found their hopes of regaining their freedom. If we constantly affirmed that we were not a hard rock, but crumbling sandstone, there was a depressing effect on our friends, who were apt to take us at our own valuation.

Mr Attlee then proceeded to give some details of British successes and achievement in the present conflict in all theatres of war. This habit of selfdepreciation was resented by many of our friends and allies, he said. He knew many statesmen and soldiers from the dominions who, while appreciating the well-deserved tributes paid to the dominion forces, felt that Britain tended to do less than justice to her own men.

Actually 70 per cent, of all the casualties suffered by the armies of the British Empire were suffered by troops from the United Kingdom. Our industrial effort in this war had also been a great achievement, he said. In the provision of materials for war the old lion had dons the lion's share of work during these critical years. He had heard criticism of British shipbuilding, but it was worth noting that with fewer yards and less labour, and in spite of the handicaps of the black-out, we had produced more tonnage last year than in the best year of the last war. Surely, taking one thing and another, we had the right to be proud of our industrial effort. After paying tribute to the services of the different countries in the British Commonwealth in the war and outlining British .progress in social legislation. Mr Attlee said: ''We are all supremely devoted to winning the war, but we also recognise that we have to win the peace and preserve our civil and religious liberty as well. To this end we must think and plan, and we should prepare for the work which awaits us when peace comes."