CONFIDENCE OF COMMONS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 140, 14 May 1940, Page 7

CONFIDENCE OF COMMONS

NATION SUMMONED TO WAR •‘OUR ONE AIM IS VICTORY”

(United Press Association. —By Electric’ Telegraph.—Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) lleceived May 14, 9.55 a.in. ? HUGBY, May 13. “I say to the House —as I said to the Ministers who have joined this Government —I have nothing to oiler but blood, toil, tears, sweat. We have before us an ordeal—an ordeal of the • most grievous kind. We have before us many long months of struggles and suffering., “What is our policy? I say it is to wage war, war by land, sea, and air, war with all our might, with all the strength God has given us!—do wage war against a monstrous tyranny never surpassed in its lamentable catalogue of human crime. That is our policy. . “What is our aim? I can give the answer in one word—it is Victory! Victory at all costs !■ Victory in spite of all the perils. Victory however long and hard the road may be, for without victory, there can be no survival —let that be realised, no survival for the, British Empire, no survival for all that the British Empire has stood for, no survival for the urge and impulse of the ages!” In these striking terms Mr Winston Churchill addressed the House of Commons this afternoon for the first time as Prime Minister, when he asked members to declare their confidence in the new Government. BUOYANCY AND HOPE. “Mankind shall move forward towards its goal—l take up my task with buoyancy and hope,” declared Mr Churchill. “1 feel entitled at this stage to claim the aid of all, and I say, ‘Come then, let us go forward together with our united strength.’” Mr Churchill’s declaration was repeatedly broken by long and loud cheers. The mood of the crowded House scarcely needed his preliminary reminder that the British nation is at the opening stage of “one of the greatest battles in history—that we are in action at many other points—in Norway and Holland—that we will have to be prepared in the Mediterranean, that the air battle is continuing, and that many preparations will hat r e to be made here at Home.” The House carried by 381 votes to nil the following resolution moved by the Prime Minister : “That this House welcomes the formation of the Government in representing the united.and inflexible resolve of the, nation to prosecute the war on Germany to a victorious conclusion.”