IN NO APOLOGETIC MOOD

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 34, 4 November 1942, Page 5

IN NO APOLOGETIC MOOD

Britain’s Offensive Spirit BUOYANT MORALE (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) . (Special Correspondent.) (Received November 3, 7 p.m.) LONDON, November 2. The two speeches on Britain’s war effort by the Home Secretary, Mr. Morrison, are widely welcomed. They are regarded as putting Britain’s share in the war into proper perspective' and certainly as wiping away any mists of doubt as to whether Britain is playing her full part. For some.time past, probably because of demands for' a second front, there had been incipient and insidious doubts growing among sections as to whether Britain was doing all she could, while certain American views on British imperialism and criticisms of her policy in India tended to add to those mists. Britain’s national characteristic of understatement and her preference not to play up her good points also contributed. Therefore, Mr. Morrison’s plain statements proved to the people of Britain that they may be proud, and even prouder than other nations, oi their war effort. It is true there have been mistakes and setbacks, but Britain has no monopoly of these, as a survey of any nation’s war record, including Germany’s, shows. Today, it is no over-statement to say that the morale of this country is as high as, and probably higher than it has ever been throughout the war, in spite of the present test of national energy which demands the most from people, as Mr. Churchill's conference with the miners showed. Britain began the year with an offensive spirit; now she is seeing that spirit transformed into action, _as proved by the brilliant R.A.F. raids, the Navy’s fine role, the Eighth Army’s offensive, and the industrial and farming efforts. She may be unable to do all that some, iieople might like, but she is certainly taking her full share in the war, and what she is doing she is doing thoroughly. , India and Empire. As regards India and the Empire, Britain is thoroughly satisfied in her own mind, whatever onlookers may say, that she is carrying out her obligations to the letter, and she fully intends to continue to do so, without aid or proddings from anybody. Britain, >in the farmers’ phrase, enters the war’s fourth winter in good heart and with her domestic affairs in no worse order than any other nation. She has a great admiration for what the Allies are doing, but as Mr. Morrison’s speeches indicate, she is in no mood to be apologetic. She is looking hopefully to Egypt for a victory with which to endorse her mood and finally to wipe out the last traces of frustration and introspection caused by Field Marshal Rommel’s summer offensive. Meanwhile, on the home front, the visits of General Smuts and Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, are causing the widest interest. There is probably greater publicity given to Mrs. Roosevelt, whose short article, “My Day," is appearing in a number of national dailies. There is a strong hope that the agreed mutual lack of knowledge between the English and American peoples may be wiped out and a basis founded for a strong post-war friendship. Mrs. Roosevelt's visit, therefore, is full of importance. Iler personal popularity is undoubted. General Smuts’s objective differs. He is discussing strategy on the highest plane. The chief topics of discussion domestically include reforms of many kinds —social, educational, political, religious, and town-planning, all of which are talking points, while many classes of workers hitherto reserved are now being called up to the forces. If there is anything which the people generally have disliked recently, it is the common cold, which, it is estimated, nine people out of 10 suffered from all October, while influenza was not uncommon. With the Board of Trade unable to take handkerchiefs “off the ration,” it was largely a case for many of “sniff and bear it.”