MESSAGE OF GOODWILL

Southland Times, Issue 24332, 13 January 1941, Page 6

MESSAGE OF GOODWILL

Broadcast To South America IMPORTANCE OF LATIN CULTURE (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, January 10. A message broadcast to Latin America by the Minister for Information today was one of good wishes for 1941 to all the British communities living there and to those countries whose hospitality they enjoyed. Mr Duff Cooper’s message was also one of good hope. “We now feel,’’ he said, “that we have seen the worst; we have been tested and we have not been found wanting. There is nothing further men can do against us which we shall not be able to support with fortitude and survive with triumph.”

People living away from Britain, the Minister went on, might have formed too gloomy a picture of Britain in wartime and he emphasized the fact that the normal life of ordinary men and women continued with all its old accompaniments of work and relaxation and he assured listeners that the theatres, cinemas and restaurants continued to be full of happy people.

I Turning to post-war plans Mr Duff I Cooper emphasized the importance of I Lord Willingdon’s mission to Latin I America and added that lie thought I Britain, owing to stress of war, would be unable to spend as much as she would like in the markets there. It was of first importance that the difficulties should be explained to the peoples of Latin America “in order that they may be assured that they will arise through no lack of goodwill on the part of the people of Britain.” DEBT TO LATIN RACES It was impossible to over-estimate the vast debt humanity owed to the Latin races, but the condition of these races in Europe today was pitiable and greater responsibility rested upon the Latin republics of the New World to carry high the torch of Latin culture and reaffirm the devotion of the Latin people to the cause of freedom. “It may well be,” the Minister declared, “that the New World, including the Latin American Continent, will be called upon to play a far greater part in the development of civilization and the control of human destiny.” Mr Duff Cooper closed by thanking the senders of many gifts, large and small. “These,” he said, “are not only valuable in themselves but remind us constantly of the hosts of friends who are daily watching and working for our victory.”