CHANGED MOOD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 November 1941, Page 4

CHANGED MOOD

OF PEOPLE OF BRITAIN VIVID PICTURE BY DUFF COOPER. WAR WILL BE A LONG ONE. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) CHRISTCHURCH, November 23. The changed mood of the people of Great Britain since September, 1939, was vividly depicted by Mr Duff Cooper, British Minister on a special mission to the Far East, in an address at a civic welcome to him and Lady Diana Duff Cooper in Christchurch last night. Though Hitler had had many failures recently, the war was not over, Mr Duff Cooper warned his audience. He believed that it would be a long war, and he appealed for a doubling of efforts so that victory could be gained more quickly. Mr Duff Cooper described the healthy and confident reaction which came over the British people after the disaster in France when they realised how close was the hideous menace to their freedom and how the morale of the people became higher as night bombings grew more intense. Referring to the failure of the German daylight attacks, Mr Duff Cooper said: “That was the first big British victory, and great credit should be given not only to the superb young men who won that war but also to the men who prepared and organised it. Among those I would mention your own Governor-General. (Applause). If there had been anything wrong with the air services, then he would have been blamed, and I believe he deserves greater credit than he has yet received for the Air Force in those fateful days.” Hitler’s failure to defeat Britain by invasion, his failure to break the spirit of the people by night bombing, his failure to defeat Russia and his failure to defeat Britain by blockade and starvation were described by Mr Duff Cooper as great British victories. When he left England on August 6 he felt that the mood of the. people was almost too high. “Now, as much as ever, I would say to any British audience: Do not believe that the war is over,” said' Mr Duff Cooper. Do not believe that the battle is won. It still needs the exertions of everyone of use. We are supremely grateful for the effort New Zealand has made in this war. We recognise that the adoption of conscription in New Zealand is a tremendous asset to the battle. It shows how you people here have realised that everyone had to do his and her utmost in the task.

“Women in this war have played a bigger part than ever before in the history of mankind because as war grows more scientific and there is so much more to do, the capacities of women play their part. Though I believe we cannot lose and I know that I could not live to see defeat, I do feel that the war will be very long. The longer it is, the worst it will be for all of us and for everyone in the whole world. Our forces should be directed toward victory. I believe they are doing that, but since leaving Europe I have realised the difficulty- of- ap- ‘ predating fully the urgency of the conflict and the immensity of the stake'<at issue. As a traveller abroad I each day an amazing impulse and T" impress it on you to double your efforts for the culmination of victory. There are days of decision for the future of the human race. Let us spare no time or effort to serve the country we love and the Empire we are proud to belong to, and the world in which we live.”