THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 45, 16 November 1940, Page 10

THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

Comments —Reflections Intercession. Eternal God, grant us courage and faith that we may live this day with Thee. May we do the duty that lies nearest, bearing ourselves like men. Let not the uncertainties of tomorrow paralyse us today. Inspired by the heroes of yesterday, make us heroic in our turn. Then. O God. with strong confidence, we commit the unknown future to Thy keeping. ¥ * * "The peace of Heaven is theirs that lift their swords, in such a just and charitable war ... a resolved and honourable war.”— Shakespeare ("King John”). * ♦ $ “The purpose of this political trial in Franco is plain. Hitler wants a demonstration before the world that somebody else and not himself lurched the world into war. The Vichy Government, which exists by permission of Hitler, wants to flx the responsibil-

“The purpose of this political trial in France is plain. Hitler wants a demonstration before the world that somebody else and not himself lurched the world into war. The Vichy Government, which exists by permission of Hitler, wants to flx the responsibility of its own predecessors in office and, on Britain, France’s former ally.” —“Londoner,” in the "Evening Standard,” London.

“If Retain France is short of food it is not because of the British blockade, for France is nearly self-support-ing for food, but because the Germans have occupied all the main French food-producing areas. They are sending to Germany all the foods they can lay their hands on in these areas and are prohibiting the export of any food from occupied to unoccupied France. With 8,000,000 refugees, Retain France is, of course, hopelessly over-populated in relation to its food resources. If it goes hungry it will be the fault of the Germans.”—The former Paris correspondent of the “Manchester Guardian.”

"What was well said at the outset is now a plainer truth and a mainstay. ‘Britain cannot win :i short.war; Germany cannot win a long one.’ Inexorably the aggressors are being forced into the long game. To face the sec’ond year Britain and the Empire stand mightier than ever in means and will. Iffitlar’s original plan to finish the struggle in a twelvemonth has been beaten by Britain. Britain has won a large part of her guarantee. Time. Time to match and overmatch the enemy’s one towering advantage over the democracies at the start —his massed armaments for war mid conquest.”—Mr. J. L. Garvin in “The Observer," London.

“A Canadian soldier to whom 1 gave a lift reminded me of something 1 ought to have commented on before — the extent of the debt that the whole British Commonwealth owes to Mr. Mackenzie King, the Prime Minister of Canada, for the part he has played iu cementing relations between the Commonwealth and the United States. At earlier stages in his Parliamentary career Mr. King has been bitterly criticized by his political opponents for what was regarded as his too ‘proAmerican’ attitude. The harvest that attitude, so far as it existed, is bearing now is such as to close all cavillers’ mouths. Canada seemed always destined to be the link and the interpreter between Great Birtain and the United States, and it has never tilled that role more effectively or more valuably than today. That is due in no small measure to the personal friendship between the Canadian Prime Minister and the American President. —“Janus,” in "The Spectator,” London.

“M. Georges Bonnet, it appears, will be the principal witnes; for the prosecution. M. Bonnet, though a member of alii the sucessive French Governments since the summer of 1937, has been the leading pro-Germaii inside the Cabinet.. His part, in the Czech crisis is too familiar to need recalling. He behaved in his most characteristic manner during Herr von Ribbentrop’s visit to Baris two months after Munich. lie then virtually promised Germany a free hand in Eastern Europe, and with his attempts to muzzle any anti-German utterances in the press he already then gave one the foretaste of a vassalized France. He preached appeasement in relation to Italy, too, though on this occasion lie came into contact with (he Premier, M. Daladier. His last outstanding feat, as Foreign Minister, was bis attempt on September 2 to prevent the Allied declaration of war oa Germany, two days after Roland had already been invaded.”—The former I’aris Guadian.”

“The Germans would like the United States to think that European famine is inevitable; that it is none of their doing, and that only the relaxing of the British blockade can avert it. But the nited States is not likely to respond blindly. Appeasement, even when it lurks behind foodships, is not in favour. Botli the State Department and public opinion generally will ask first whether the agitation'has any sound basis iu fact, und, .secondly, whether, even should it. prove to have, the danger of aiding Hitler doos not transcend the appeal to Ihe heart.”— “Manchester Guardian.”

"Dr. Gallup is a tali, dark, iucisiveJooking man suggesting Hie combination of a very successful business man ami an eager school head. He had rccenlly had a national poll to discover how Hitler's victories had affected tile Uniled Slates as regards help to England. The result was that 53 per cent, were in favour of giving England more help than at present short of going to war, 41 per cent, thought the United States was giving enough now, and 6 per cent, thought she should give less lielp. Of the 53 per cent. 15 per cent, believed that the United States should go into Hie war. Democratic and Republican voters come in fairly close agreement hero, 50 per cent. Republicans forgiving more help, 56 per cent. Democrats."—Mr. James Bone, the London Editor of the "Manebesler Guardian," in a recent interview with Dr. Gallup, Director of Hie American Institute .of Public Opinion. * * Our Armament. Let us be backed witli God, and with the seas, Which He hath given for fence impregnable. And with their helps only defend ourselves; In them, and in ourselves, our safety lies. —Shakespeare (Henry VI).