HISTORIC OCCASION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 22 October 1942, Page 5

HISTORIC OCCASION

Smuts Addresses British Parliament TREMENDOUS OVATION ACCORDED ;<Rec. 10.5 a.m.) Rugby, Oct. 2 1. General Smuts. Prime Minister of South Africa, addressing a united assembly of the House of Lords and House of C omnions, Mid: “When we survey the world heaving to-day in its agony we see everywhere the same spirit lighting up the sombre scene. Ihe spirit of man is neither dead nor decadent. It will never bend the knee before the new slavery. The light of freedom which guided our slow, faltering advance through the ages still shines in the night which has overtaken us. The glory is still with us and we shall follow it with fill our strength and devotion to the new dawn which surely awaits our race. But a rough and terrible passage is before us and calls for all our combined resources, all our concentrated will and effort, and all our highest leadership to carry us to our goal. 1 here is no place for complacency and wishful thinking. A mortal struggle is on and wi l ! become more cruel and desperate as the end draws nearer.

General Smuts said the people of Britain were real heroes in this epic worldwide drama and their spirit was unbending and unbreakable. Though they had suffered greatly and lost many things they had not lost the most precious thing of all. Rather had it increased. The soul of the country remained and glory had not departed from the land. Britain’s glory was to have stood in the breach and kept the way open to man’s vast future. This was the glory of the spirit whicn saw and knew no defeat or loss but increasingly nerved, nourished and sustained the Will to final victory. But, said General Smuts, the spirit of resolution, endurance and sacrifice is not confined to Britain. Other Allied nations each in its own degree shared this spirit. WAR SITUATION Examining the war situation General Smuts said our role in the first three years necessarily had been defensive. We could barely maintain our self-de-fence against terrible odds. In cases Where we were honour bound to take

in spite of her peace treaty with Russia launch a treacherous attack against her? Only time will show.” SECOND FRONT ISSUE Turning to the question of a second front. General Smuts said he would not discuss future strategy of the war, but would leave the subject to amateur strategists. He would emphasise, however. that one phase of the war had ended and another begun. The final alignment of the two sides had been completed and the resources of the United Nations were on the increase, while those ol' the enemy were on the decline. The United Nations’ manpower was steadily growing while those of the enemy were being constantly depleted. The spectre of want and starvation had appeared in the subject countries and there was growing unrest against their totalitarian masters. The situation was ripening for great developments. Time hitherto had been on the side of the United Nations and once the time came to take the offensive it would be folly I to hesitate. Nor were the United Nations ‘ likely to do so. “On this point.” added General Smuts, “it would be unwise for me to say more.” Contrasting Nazi ideology with the principles of democracy General Smuts said the real issue in the struggle had become perfectly clear. There was a challenge to all the democratic peoples held dear. This war was a new crusade, a new fight to the death for man’s rights and liberties. POST-WAR WORLD Envisaging the post-war world Gen- ! eral Smuts said with the experiences of the last war they ought this time to hammer out something more clear and practicable than before. They could not hope to establish a new order at once in a bleak post-war world but there were certain social and economic problems that could be tackled almost at once on an international scale to make a better world and a rich life for man. There was iio reason why they should not thankfully and sincerely attempt to carry out the task which I would lie before them. The people were searching their souls for the causes of the war and one of the post-war tasks wouli be to build a new kind of human solidarity and a new spirit among men that j would remove those causes.— i 8.0. W. MR LLOYD GEORGE PRESIDES TRIBUTE TO GENERAL SMUTS HELP IN LAST WAR (Rec. 11.17 a.m.) Rugby, Oct, 21. David Lloyd George, “Father of the House of Commons" presided at the joint meeting of the House of Commons and the House of Lords. They were addressed by the South African Prime Minister, General Smuts. Mr Lloyd George said they greeted one of the foremost statesmen of his generation who was exceeded in calmness and discernment by no one in his age. “No one knows better than I General Smuts’s great experience of the last war or the value of his judgment on that occasion. He will tell us something about this war and from his words of wisdom we may gather some comfort and some confidence of deliverance from our present difficulties.” Mr Churchill, expressing the members’ thanks after General Smuts had spoken said he had tried hard in Cairo to persuade General Smuts to visit Britain. “I felt his presence here at a time when the war hangs heavily upon us would be a great reinforcement to our councils and our spirit. His wisdom knowledge and experience are invaluable to those charged with executive responsibility. All he said arises from calm and profound reflection, from knowledge and from resolute, unflinching, inflexible conviction and courage. In your name I express to him our most profound acknowledgment, our gratitude and our thanks for all he has done in the Jong years that have gone and also for the impressive statement he delivered us to-day on what in many ways is an unprecedented occasion.” Tremendous applause was given General Smuts while Mr Churchill and Mr Lloyd George were also cheered.— 8.0. W, SECRET MEETING | (Rec. 11.25 a.m.) London, Oct. 21. | Nearly 1000 peers and members of j the House of Commons, including all I the Cabinet members, met secretly in ! London to-day to hear General Smuts's I speech. Mr Lloyd George presided. High Commissioners, including Mr W. IJ. Jordan, representing New Zealand, I sat facing General Smuts, and were divided by a gangway from Cabinet members, behind whom were the Lords and then members of the House of Commons. There were thunderous cheers and clapping as the Speaker, the Lord Chancellor, Mr Churchill, and Mr Lloyd George walked down the aisle, followed by General Smuts, who walked alone. He wore a field-marshal’s uniform and his breast was ablaze with medal ribbons. The hall seated about 800 and many members of the House of Commons found standing room only. The audience frequently cheered and applauded General Smuts throughout his speech, especially when he made reference to China, Holland, Greece and other oppressed nations, but the loudest cheering followed his praise for Russia. When General Smuts sat down Mr Churchill rose to thank him. The proceedings then moved to a tumultuous climax. Mr Churchill asked everyone to rise and to accord General Smuts the acclamation he deserved, and the audience cheered and applauded for over a minute while Mr Lloyd George and Mr Churchill Warmly shook his hand. Then-someone started "For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow,” whereupon Mr Churchill motioned the audience to joip in the three cheers that followed.—P.A.

/he offensive in support of other small peoples we suffered reverses which still further weakened us. However, we should never regret the help we did our best to bring to Norway, Holland and Greece in their hour of need. In these common sufferings the United Nations were born, but these efforts were indeed beyond our resources at the time and we suffered discouraging reverses. Only in Africa could we assume the offensive. The most deadly catastrophe of all had been the fall of France. It was an awful moment in history. The sudden fall of . a great nation and world power was a | phenomenon almost unknown in his- i tory, and this particular blow was as unexpected as it was deadly. The enemy looked upon it os, filso for us, the end, and this infatuation providentially saved us. Instead of immediately turning on London the enemy persevered his planned course to Paris, and gave us an opportunity to recover our breath and prepare for the blitz of London. HITLER’S MISTAKE The defeat of the Luftwaffe in that supreme crisis saved not only London and Britain but I firmly believe the whole Allied cause and the future of the world,” declared General Smuts. The fall of France was followed by another fatal mistake on the part of Hitler. Baulked in his air attack on London, he saw r it unsafe to attempt an invasion of Britain before first clearing: his rear in Russia. RUSSIAN RESISTANCE The magnitude and duration of the Russian resistance surprised not only Hitler, but probably everybody else. Probably no such losses on both sides had ever been suffered in the history of war. If the Russian losset; were terrible it was equally true the German Army was bleeding to death in Russia. The appalling blood-letting which was necessary for Hitler’s ultimate defeat was being administered by the Russians, and they alone could do it. In spite of their losses of men, material and territory the Russians showed not the least sign of giving in, and the bitter defence would go on to the bitter end. This impression was confirmed i by all inside information. Hitler had I done his best to avoid Napoleon's ex- : ample, but history might yet record that the course he actually adopted was even more fatal than Napoleon’s retreat from Moscow. The course for all of us to follow was clear. Whatever help in whatever form we could give Russia to sustain her in her colossal effort should be given in the fullest measure with the utmost speed. She was bearing more than her share or the common burden. THE FAR EAST After the fall of France said General Smuts, the Vichy regime opened the door to Japan in Indo-China and the flood poured into Siam, Malaya and Burma. The Dutch East Indies and other island groups in the Far East were doomed to fall before the Japanese. and the flood had been stopped just short of the shores of Australia and New Zealand. The Allies have been blamed for these tremendous setbacks which had been hinted at as a sign of the approaching downfall of the British Commonwealth. As a matter of fact the situation developed as the logical sequence to the downfall of France and nothing else. They mourned the series of losses of territory. particularly the great Dutch East Indies, and deplored their lack of greater opportunity to help China, but those things would pass. For Japan as for Hitler's Germany the writing was on the wall and all that would remain would be Japan for the Japanese Japan had sealed her own doom through her attack on Pearl Harbour which had consolidated and crystallised American opinion as nothing else could have done. Three steps which had marked the climb of the democracies out of the abyss were the defeat of the Luftwaffe over London, the treacherous attack by Germany on Russia despite the peace treaty between them, and Pearl Harbour in its timely effort in carrying America into the war. “He have much (o be thankful for,” said General Smuts, “but no less than for the colossal mistakes of our enemies. Will a fourth blunder be committed? Will Japan