KING’S SPEECH

Waikato Times, Volume 193, Issue 22204, 25 November 1943, Page 5

KING’S SPEECH

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT CONFIDENCE IN VICTORY UNITY OF ALLIES (OKlrfnl Wireless) (Received Nov. 25, noon) RUGBY, Nov. 24 The mounting scale of the offensive against Germany was the fruit of the devoted and untiring efforts of the British people. King George declared in the Speech from the Throne when opening the ninth session of the 37th Parliament of the United Kingdom. In the coming year his people would, with the help of God, be able to bring to bear upoh the enemy a still greater weight of attack.

The eighth session of Parliament ended yesterday, when the Lord Chancellor prorogued Parliament until today, when the House 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 all theatres

the King reviewed the successes in North Africa, Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica and Italy. “In Italy,” he said, “.my forces and those of my American ally are now engaging the enemy on the mainland of Europe. On his Eastern front the enemy has given ground before the massive and unrelenting advance of the Russian armies, whose magnificent achievements we have watched with ever-deepening admiration. The captive peoples of Europe are everywhere preparing to throw off the yoke of oppression and we shall continue to afford them suen help and encouragement as lies in our power. On the frontier of India and in the Pacific Japanese aggression has been halted and the forces of the United Nations are moving to the offensive. Naval and Air Strength

“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 in the warmth of the reception accorded 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 of 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 freedom-loving peoples everywhere had been considered at the 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.

I Go Forward With Confidence I ‘‘With the growing help of our great American ally and together with the other United Nations,” said | His Majesty, “we shall go forward I with confidence in our cause until iwe have delivered the peoples of the world from fear of the aggressor. My Government is taking council with my Allies, and, building upon the foundations laid at the recent conference at Moscow, will devote its continuous attention to a study of plans of 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 I Ministers are resolved, as far as the | future can be foreseen, to be ..ready , | to meet the different tasks that*await ! them when victory is won They I have undertaken a special review of | the problems likely to arise as hos- ! tilities in Europe come to an end and | the adjustments which will have to j be made when they turn to prosecute i with fresh vigour the war against j Japan, and in the months to come | Ministers will complete provisional ! plans for the period of transition . through which we must pass before ! the troubled times of war give place i to the settled conditions cf peace.” I The King concluded with a reference to the legislation that would be necessary as conditions changed, and with an assurance that as measures