CONFIDENCE IN CHURCHILL

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21416, 9 May 1941, Page 4

CONFIDENCE IN CHURCHILL

No more convincing answer to Hitler’s last speech could be imagined than the vote of confidence in the British Government in the House of Commons. Hitler, in pursuance of his policy of dividing the opposition, appealed to the British people to get rid of Churchill. Their rejoinder was to express their confidence in the Prime Minister by 457 votes to 3. Hitler cannot take much comfort from that. The British people have never been more solidly united than now, in spite of, or perhaps because of, the hard knocks which Mr Churchill has constantly been warning them to expect, and which they have endured.

Britons everywhere will thrill with pride that those who control the destiny of the heart of the Empire are so thoroughly knit together in their determination to defend themselves and democracy against barbarism. The pill that Mr Churchill asked them to swallow was not even sugar-coated. It was as bitter as gall. Mr Churchill was frank, uncompromising and insistent that the path of duty must be trodden resolutely. But he was unafraid and still as confident as ever that victory would be'achieved. He did not attempt to conceal the fact that mistakes had been made. He did not claim infallibility for himself or his Government, but he did claim an honest intention and a great endeavour and left the House to judge the measure of his success. No one could have expected a more emphatic answer. He asked them if they were prepared for more tears, blood and sweat under his leadership before they achieved victory, and they said Yes.

The debate has done much to clear the air and to show Britain’s enemies and friends alike just where Britain stands. Mr Churchill had a very convincing reply to most of the criticism, and the information he was able to add was enlightening. His references to the campaign in the Mediterranean area were particularly interesting to Australia and New Zealand because their troops are immediately concerned there. Mr Churchill left no doubt about the need to defend the Allies’ Mediterranean positions and the determination that they would be defended. His announcement that General Wavell has command of half a million troops will be received with relief. It is clear that the Middle East will still be one of the important theatres of war, and the campaign there will impose a continuous and heavy strain upon German and Italian resources.