STERN RESOLVE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 141, 15 May 1940, Page 8

STERN RESOLVE

COMING STRUGGLE. BRITAIN BRACED. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, May 14. The fact that to-day would normally be a bank holiday in Britain is generally forgotten by the public in the realisation that the greatest battle lias begun and that patience and fortitude are needed not only during the next nerve-straining weeks, but also at the present moment when detailed news of any kind is likely to be unobtainable for military and strategic reasons. The Times advises: “No early success should he allowed to elate us at Home, and no early check should depress us any more than the armies in the field, who will take either as all in the day’s work.’’ It adds: “The campaign which Jias now opened, however it should develop. however widely the scope of operations should extend, is not going to be easily won or easily lost. Yet we know where we stand. We feel we can brace ourselves for the effort needed. We believe that, though victory may be far off, wo have taken a step towards it in tile last three days.” “BACKS TO THE WALL.” The Minister for Information (Mr A. Duff-Cooper), addressing British and Empire editors, said the present was] not the time for undue optimism, but rather restrained confidence. “We arc a.t present in an analogous position to March, 1918, when Germany was staking her all on an offensive, when Earl Haig issued his famous ‘backs to the wall’ order —when every person who can help the Empire must do so,” declared the Minister. Mr Duff-Cooper emphasised the importance of the Pope’s blessing on the Belgian and Dutch cause. “Their cause is ours, therefore a man so logical as the Pope must realise lie is blessing our cause,” he added. MANKIND MENACED. EUROPE’S AGGRESSORS. MR HULL SPEAKS OUT. WASHINGTON, May 13. The Secretary of State (Mr Cordell Hull) in a speech excoriated European aggressors and asserted that the present international lawlessness “menaces the civilised existence of mankind,” requiring every nation and individual “to be actively on guard.” Mr Hull said: “Peaceful nations have been deprived of their independence by the use of armed force, or the threat of force combined with the exercise of fraud and treachery.” The Secretary of State thus made the first official reference to “Trojan horse” tactics. Mr Bulwinkel is to introduce a Bill in the House to suspend the restrictions of the Johnson Act and the neutrality law in order to permit the extension of American credits to European belligerents for the purchase of non-military goods. Prcsuniabl.v this. is the forerunner of a series of proposals which are expected to precipitate a nation-wide controversy concerning direct financial and economic help for the Allies. President Roosevelt has asked Congress for supplementary appropriations of 12,500,000 dollars in order to permit the Treasury to purchase strategic and critical defence materials, a#d 2,900,000 dollars for the army in order to improve the Porto Rican sea coast defences.