EMPIRE DAY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 May 1940, Page 4

EMPIRE DAY

MESSAGE FROM LORp BLEDISLOE GRIM TASK OF WAR. CONFIDENCE IN FUTURE. LONDON, May 24. The following message has been issued by Lord Bledisloe in his capacity as President of the Empire Day movement;. — “The Empire is at Avar, not only Avith Germany, but through Germany, with those evil forces of ruthless brutality, oppression of the weak, falsehood and injustice, against which the British race has throughout the centuries proved itself to be the champion of humanity. In the course of last year we strove hard, long, and earnestly, for peace. To our sorrow we failed, but through no fault of the Empire statesmen and still less through any doubt as to the righteousness of our cause. Upon the issue of this Avar rests the future happiness, contentment and prosperity of the peoples of the world, of every nation, race, colour and class. These blessings can only Hoav from freedom of speech, freedom of the Press, freedom of self-determination without dictation from foreign aggressors, and, above all, freedom to worship God, to whatever religious community we may belong. This freedom, so dear to the heart of all his Majesty’s subjects, is in grave peril today. In face of savage cruelty to helpless nations and defenceless human beings, of lying slander, of derision at our alleged weakness and of the violent threats of self-seeking dictators, the British Empire has stood firm as a rock, trusting in Providence and with quiet confidence in her cause and in her vast inherent resources, at the same time demonstrating in thq air, on the sea and on land that, amid the perils of modern Avarfare, her gallant sons have lost none of the courage, fearlessness and skill Avhich distinguished their forefathers. The remarkable solidarity of the Empire is its main bulwark against defeat.

“Under these conditions, as President of the Empire Day Movement, I greet you warmly on the birthday of the great and good Queen Victoria, chosen by its founder to remind us all of the true meaning, the privileges and the obligations of Empire citizenship, and I would earnestly ask you to remember the inspiring words which our present gracious Sovereign quoted in his broadcast to his people last Christmas, ‘Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God.’ Thus guided, we shall press forward with the grim task which lies before us, confidently assured of victory for our arms and also for those noble ideals upon which the British Empire has been built up. Let our battle cry be:— ‘For God, the Empire and justice between nation and nation and between man and man,’ and all that is best and truest in mankind will re-echo to it.” (Signed) BLEDISLOE.