TRIBUTES TO RUSSIA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 June 1942, Page 3

TRIBUTES TO RUSSIA

ALLIANCE ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATED AT MEETINGS IN BRITAIN. SIR STAFFORD CRIPPS ON SECOND FRONT. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, June 20. Speaking tonight as the representative of the British Government and the War Cabinet at a great demonstration in London celebrating the anniversary of the AngloSoviet alliance,’ the Lord 'Privy Sea], Sir Stafford Cripps, said : “We desire in every way to encourage the spirit of friendship and understanding between the two nations which this massed and representative British gathering so strongly emphasises,.” Similar meetings and demonstrations are being held throughout Britain this week-end. Sir Stafford Cripps said that, in addition to the year-old Anglo-Soviet alliance, the recently-signed treaty for mutual aid and post-war collaboration was a second event of outstanding importance in the history of the world which these demonstrations celebrated. He warned that it might still take the Allies a long time to overcome the enemy’s vast military and industrial organisation. The Russians realised, more fully than some of their friends in this country might appear to do, the magnitude of the British effort, the length of time they had neen fighting, and the enormous strain that had been placed upon their Navy, merchant seamen, Air Force and soldiers in wintry, scattered regions of the world, just as the British realised the incomparable sacrifices of the Soviet people willingly offered to the common cause of victory. The British had so far been saved from the sufferings of an invasion. How tragic such sufferings were They could imagine from the descriptions published by the Soviet Government of the treatment of their people in occupied areas. But no imagination could fully bring home to them the ghastly reality of the daily mounting tale of horror and brutality the Nazis were wreaking on men, women and children. However, the .day was coming when those responsible for this deliberate policy of sadistic cruelty would have to answer for their deeds, not for revenge, but because'the civilised world must be strong enough to make it clear that it would not tolerate these foul inhumanities. Referring to the possibilities of opening a front in the West, Sir Stafford said: “We now have the full help of the United States, help that is daily growing greater and more effective. The time will come when with this help we shall be able to launch a great and successful attack upon Hitler in the West, but it is success that is the essence of the help that we can render to our Allies. Failure would damage, not assist, the common cause. When we strike, let us strike hard and with determination to march through to Berlin before we call the final halt. “When that moment will come, we cannot say, and I am not going to help Hitler by telling you or him. It may be sooner or later, though Hitler has apparently guessed that it’ may not be too far ahead. As we make our preparations, so no doubt he will try to make his, too. This matter, as you know, was discussed with M. Molotov when he was in England. I can assure you that he knows much more about it than I can tell you.” After Sir Stafford’s speech, messages were read from Marshal Timoshenko, General MacArthur, Lord Gort and the Archbishop of Canterbury. Marshal Timoshenko expressed the determination of the Red Army to continue the struggle till complete victory was achieved. General MacArthur and Lord Gort both referred to the matchless courage and endurance of the Soviet forces. The Archbishop of Canterbury wrote: “I trust that our two nations may grow in mutual understanding and work together for victory in the war and the welfare of mankind in the peace.” Mr Burgin, M.P., has revealed that the British army is fighting in Libya knowing that many tanks which would have offered better resistance to General Rommel have been sent to Russia. The Allies, he said, were proud of the sacrifice entailed in honouring the bargain with Russia.