THE WAR AND AFTER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 March 1943, Page 3

THE WAR AND AFTER

ADDRESS BY THE BRITISH PRIME MINISTER Sanguine Hopes of Early Victory Not Shared MISTAKES THAT MUST NOT BE REPEATED POST-WAR PROBLEMS AND POLICY LONDON, March 21. A broad survey of the war situation and outlook was made by the British Prime Minister (Mr Winston Churchill) in a radio address tonight to home and overseas listeners. Mr Churchill opened by expressing his thanks to the great numbers of people who had made kind inquiries about him in his recent illness. He said that although for a time he had been stricken down with fever, he had never for a moment relinquished the responsible direction of affairs. In Parliament and elsewhere, Mr Churchill went on to observe, there was considerable discussion about post-war problems. Many people believed the war would soon be over, • but he was not able to share their sanguine hopes. It was essential that they should march forward in unity to their main objective—-the defeat of the enemy. There were numerous demands for commitments to post-war schemes involving large expenditure, but this must ultimately be the responsibility of the Government of the day. Mr Churchill spoke gratefully of the trust and confidence reposed in him as leader of the nation during dark and tragic days from which they had now emerged—such trust and confidence as no Prime Minister had ever been given before. At his time of life, he continued, he had no personal ambition and no future to provide for. He wished only to do his duty to the whole mass of the nations of the British Commonwealth. The Prime Minister went on to discuss the possible course of the war and the situations likely to arise. He said he could imagine that some time next year, but it might well be the year after, the United Nations would beat Hitler. They would then immediately proceed to make the necessary adjustments to wage an intensified war on the other side of the world against Japan. ' China would be relieved, and her occupied territories freed and the menace to Australia and New Zealand removed. It might be possible, Mr Churchill observed, that Japan would collapse before Germany, in which case it would be necessary for the Allies to readjust their plans accordingly.

GREAT RESPONSIBILITY Speaking of the great responsibility that rested on Britain, the United States and Russia in safeguarding future peace and the political integrity of European countries, Mr Churchill emphasised the need of avoiding the mistakes made after the last war. After the defeat of Germany these three Powers would immediately begin to confer on future world organisation to safeguard themselves and Europe. The Prime Minister said he prayed and hoped that the unity of these three Powers would be worthy of the supreme responsibility that would rest upon them. He hoped, too, that some day they might have the nations forming a Council of Europe and similarly a Council of Asia. Their aim must be to make the Council of Europe a really efficient league. The framework of the League of Nations should be utilised and armed forces — national or international, or both — should be used to prevent new aggression. Side by side with the Great Powers, the smaller States should have equal rights, perhaps by confederation. FOUR=YEAR PLAN Mr Churchill dealt with the great part the British Commonwealth of Nations must be expected to play in these plans of international reconstruc-

tion and control. He said that, fol- • lowing on the downfall o'f Hitler, if that occurred next year, the United Kingdom Parliament would have had i a life of nine years, and it would be ; necessary to have a new House of Commons chosen by the whole electorate. He was very largely attracted by the idea of making and proclaiming what might be called a four-year plan ; of post-war policy. Touching on de- 7 tails of this policy, the Prime Minister 1 mentioned the Beveridge plan of social “ security, observing that personally he ■ was a strong partisan of national compulsory insurance of all classes for all purposes. The best way to insure against unemployment, he said, was to have no unemployment. The unem-' ployable must be culled from the rich 1 as well as the poor. Other problems ’ which might be dealt with under the ■ four-year plan included the mainten--1 ance and improvement of British agri--1 culture, development of public health ■ policy, education, and industry. A continued stabilisation of prices after the war must be an essential ob- - ject of policy. He considered that f there would be a considerable oppor- • (unity after the war for re-establish-, ing British export trade and was of opinion that State enterprise and free enterprise could both serve the na- , tional interest, working side by side. • ’ If this were accomplished there should be no need to run into a slump likd that which the last war.'