EMPIRE AND WORLD HAIL VICTORY OVER GERMANY

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 22605, 9 May 1945, Page 3

EMPIRE AND WORLD HAIL VICTORY OVER GERMANY

THANKSGIVING AND RESOLVE

KINC PAYS TRIBUTE TO FALLEN CAUSE OF LIBERTY-LOVING PEOPLES “OUR LAST REMAINING FOE” LONDON, May 8 “Today we give thanks to Almighty God for a great deliverance,” said His Majesty, in a speech to the British Empire and Commonwealth. "Speaking from London, that old and capital city which was never for a moment daunted or dismayed, I ask you to join with me in an act of thanksgiving that Germany, who crove the whole of Europe into war," has been overthrown. “In the Far East we have yet to wage with the Japanese a determined and slow struggle. To that we shall turn with the utmost reserve and all our resources. But as for this hour, when the awful shadow’ of war has passed from our homes in these Islands, we may at last make one pause for thanksgiving, then turn our thoughts to the task of the peace in Europe. “Let us remember those who will not come back; their confidence and challenge in battle, their sacrifice and endurance in the face of a merciless enemy.

“Let us remember the men in all the Services and the women

in all the Services who have laid down their lives. We have come

to the end of another tribulation, and they are not with us at the moment of our rejoicing. Then let us give gratitude to God for the living who have brought us to victory. I cannot thank each one separately, for in a total war the efforts of all rise to the same noble height and all are devoted to the common purpose. Armed and unarmed, men and women have striven and endured. As your King I thank those who have borne arms on land and sea and in the air, and all civilians who have borne their many burdens unstintingly and without complaint. “Let us think what it was that upheld us through all the years of battle and peril not only the knowledge that our freedom, our very existence as a people were in danger, but the knowledge also that in defending ourselves we were defending the liberties of the whole world. Our cause was the cause not of this nation only, not of this Empire and Commonwealth only, but of every land where freedom is cherished and liberty and law go hand in hand.” “ In the darkest hours, when the enslaved and isolated peoples of Europe looked to us, their hopes were our hopes, their confidence confirmed our faith. We knew that if we failed, the last remaining barrier against a world-wide tyranny would have fallen in ruins. " But we did not fail. We kept faith with ourselves and with one another. We kept faith and unity with our great Allies. That faith, that unity, have carried us to victory through dangers which at times seemed overwhelming. “ So let us resolve to bring to the task which lies ahead the same high confidence. Much hard work awaits us, both in the restoration of our own country after the ravages of war and in helping to restore peace and sanity to a shattered world. This comes upon us at a time when we have all given of our best. For five long years and more, heart and brain, nerve and muscle have been directed upon the overthrow of Nazi tyranny. Now we turn, fortified by success, to deal with our last remaining foe. “ The Queen and I know the ordeals you have endured throughout the Commonwealth and Empire. W e have tried to share some of those ordeals with you, and we know that together we shall face the future with stern resolve and all our reserves. " We shall be confident in the. thought that the years of darkness and danger in which the children of our country have grown up are over, and, please God, for ever. We shall have failed, and throughout those years shall have fought in vain, if the victory which they died to win does not lead to a lasting peace founded on justice and goodwill. “ To that, then, let us turn our thoughts on this day of just triumph, and then take up our work again, resolved as a people to do nothing unworthy of those who died for us, and to make the world such a world as they who died desired for their children and for ours.

“ This is the task to which now honour binds us. We humbly commit our cause into the hands of God. He has been our strength and our shield. Let us thank Him for His mercies and in this hour of victory commit ourselves and our new task to the guidance of that same strong Hand.”