NO ILLUSIONS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 April 1940, Page 3

NO ILLUSIONS

—q, DEMOCRATIC PROFIT AND LOSS. "We are in no illusion about the war." said the Foreign Secretary. Lord Halifax, in a speed) at Leeds. "Wo know how great are the issues—tin. liberty and (lie independence of our own country and Commonwealth and .if all European States. Neither do wo under-rale the strength of our enemy oi' tlie sternness of tlie struggle upon '.'.■nidi we are engaged. Wo realise thal to secure victory in that struggle will require all the energy and lhe resolution that we can command. A dictator compared with a democracy enjoys great initial advantages in making war. His preparations and his policy can be made in complete secrecy. In a democracy there is no surrender of private judgment, no suppression of outside contacts, and no sinister coercion by secret police. That increases the difficulty of any Government, in lime of preparation and planning. But when trouble comes the fact that the people l in ,v and have approved invests the decision reached with the overwhelming force of free judgment and their united will. It is just that unity of moral purpose which Hitlei’ rates so low. and which will, if 1 mistake not. be the principal cause of his defeat."