WAR AND AFTER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 280, 26 November 1943, Page 4

WAR AND AFTER

UNITED EFFORTS REVIEW BY THE KING Reed. 6 p.m. Rugby, Nov. 24. The mounting scale of the offensive against Germany was the fruit of the devoted, untiring efforts of the British people, the King declared in the Speech from the Throne at the opening of the ninth session of the thirty-seventh Parliament of the United Kingdom. In the coming year his people would, with the help of God, be able to bring to bear upon the enemy a still greater weight of attack. The eighth session of the Parliament ended yesterday when the Lord Chancellor prorogued Parliament until to-day, when both Houses assembled in the House of Lords to hear His Majesty, who was accompanied by the Queen, read the proclamation opening the new session.

Recalling that in the fourth year of the war the United Nations had assumed the offensive in ail theatres, the King reviewed the successes in North Africa, Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, and Italy.

"In Italy my forces anfi those o( my American ally are now engaging the enemy on the mainland of Europe,’’ he said. "On his eastern front the enemy has given ground before the massive, unrelenting advance of the Russian armies, whose magnificent achievements we have watched with everdeepening admiration. The captive peoples of Europe are everywhere preparing to throw off the yoke of oppression, and we shall continue to afford them such help and encouragement as lies in our power. On the frontier of India and ir. the Pacific, Japanese aggression has been halted and the forces of the United Nations are now moving to the offensive. At sea. my Navy and those of our allies continue to maintain their mastery over the enemy, and important successes have been won in the struggle against the enemy's U-boats. The air forces of the United Nations have maintained their ascendancy in all theatres of war and have increased the weight of their blows at the enemy's heart." His Majesty referred to the increased co-operation of the United Nations and said: "I rejoice bl the warmth of the reception accorded to my Ministers in Washington, Moscow, and Quebec.” He also referred to the facilities granted by Britain's oldest ally, Portugal. The magnificent efforts in the field, on the sea, and in the air had been sustained and supplied by the great manufacturing industries, agriculture, mines, and transport by land and sea. The perseverance of the people ot Britain had been emulated by the peoples of the Dominions, the colonial territories, and India. Britain had the advantage of the wise counsel of the Prime Minister of South Africa and several Ministers of other Dominions. Matters of great importance to the future of the United Nations and the freedom-loving peoples everywhere had been considered at international discussions.

His Majesty also referred to the relations with China and to the establishment of the French Committee of National Liberation, and said he looked forward to the time when France would be liberated and restored to her rank among the great Powers. "With the growing help ot our great American ally and together with the other United Nations. ' he said, "we shall go forward with confidence in our cause until we have delivered the peoples of the world from fear of the aggressoi. "My Government is taking counsel with my Allies, and building upon foundations, laid at the recent conlerence in Moscow, will devote cotinuous attention to the study of plans for the future settlement of Europe. My Government will continue to concentrate its powers upon the prosecution of the war, and until final victory is won that will be their primary task. At the same time, my Ministers are resolved as far as the future can be foreseen to be ready to meet the different tasks that await then, when victory is won. They have undertaken a special review of the problems likely to arise as hostilities <in Europe come to an end, and the adjustments which will have to be made when we turn to prosecute with fresh vigour the war against Japan; and in the months to come. Ministers will complete the provisional plans lor the period of transition through which we must pass before the troubled times of war give place to the settled conditions of peace."

The King concluded with a reference to the legislation that would be necessary as conditions changed, and with the assurance that as measures became necessary they would be brought forward for the social welfare of the demobilised forces and the people in general.—B.O.W.