NORWAY’S FREEDOM.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 132, 4 May 1940, Page 8

NORWAY’S FREEDOM.

VITAL TO WORLD PEACE. BRITISH RESOLUTION. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, May 2. “I believe Britain regards the restoration of freedom to the people of Norway as vital to world peace, and that we shall not rest till that lias been achieved,” said the Lord Privy Seal (Sir Kingsley Wood) in a speech. He continued: “Justification for our participation in this conflict becomes plainer every day, as we have seen a succession.of wicked and cruel attacks by Germany on small and weak States who unhappily thought their neutrality might save them.” Referring to the presence of the Allied forces in the Near and Middle East, Sir Kingsley said they were not there for the purpose of menacing anyone. They were there for whatever duty they might be called upon to face, and “their presence will fortify our good friends, Egypt and Turkey.” The Minister of Health (Mr Waiter Elliot), speaking on Thursday evening, said the nation was absolutely united in its determination to win the war and as soon as possible. “There is no division of spirit or purpose either within the Government or within the country,” he said. “Britain is an anvil which has worn out many hammers. The world lias looked to London for a thousand years, and heard many a great poet, many a great statesman and seen many a great warrior. We have no mind to be false to our history. Foot to foot we shall fight it out. “We do not fear hard blows,” lie continued, “for beyond them all we look to peace—to build our houses, bring up our children to see the sky without searchlights and the streets without sandbags, and lead again the good life of free men in a. free land. “But these things must be reconquered whenever they are in danger. They are in danger now, and now is the time for the resolve that, whoever fails in the light for freedom, we individuals, wc each one of us, will not. Such is the choice. We cannot fail to answer.”