BRITISH FAITH

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21197, 21 August 1940, Page 8

BRITISH FAITH

VICTORY IN WAR

CRITICISM OF FRANCE j COULD HAVE CONTINUED (United Pres* A«sn—Elea Tel. Copyright} (Received August 21, 3.15 p.m.) LONDON, August 20 The House of Commons was crowded to hear Mr Winston Churchill’s statement. The occupants of the Diplomatic Galleries included the American, Brazilian, Argentine, Egyptian, Russian and Spanish Ambassadors. Mr Churchill said: “The dangers we face are still enormous, but so are our advantages and resources. The people are entitled to know that there are solid grounds for the Government’s confidence, also that we have good reason to believe ourselves capable of continuing the war if necessary alone and If necessary for years.” Referring to Somaliland, Mr Churchill said: “Even though metropolitan France was temporarily overrun there was no reason why the French Navy and substantial parts of the French Army and French empire overseas should not have continued the struggle on our side. France might have remained one of the great combatants in the struggle and would have preserved the continuity of her life, and the French ; Empire might have advanced with , the British Empire to the rescue of i the independence and integrity of ■ the French Motherland. “Most other countries which the Germans had over-run had persevered valiantly and faithfully.” Bases Leased to America Mr Churchill dealt with the lease of bases to the United States. He pointed out that Britain had to think not only for herself but for the lasting security of the cause and principles for which she was fighting. Some months ago the British Government came to the conclusion that the interests of the United States and the British Empire required that the United States should have facilities for naval and air defence in the Westren Hemisphere against an attack from a Nazi Power which had acquired temporary but lengthy control of a large part of Western Europe and its resources. The Government therefore decided spontaneously, without asking or being offered an inducement, to inform the United States Government that it would gladly place such defence facilities at the disposal of the United States by leasing suitable sites in the Brit- j ish trans-Atlantic possessions. Mr Churchill recalled that the j principle of the association of interests for common purposes between Britain and the United States had developed even before the war in j various agreements reached about | certain small islands in the Pacific j Ocean which had become important i air fuelling points. “Presently we learned that anxiety j was also felt in the United States about the air and naval defence of ; their Atlantic seaboard,” said Mr ! Churchill, “and Mr Roosevelt made j it clear that he would like to discuss ; with us and Canada and Newfound- j land the development of American j naval and air facilities in New- i foundland aftd the West Indies. “There is, of course, no question j of any transference of sovereignty or any action being taken against the wishes of the various colonies con- j cerned, but for our part the British Government is entirely willing to accord defence facilities to the United States on a 99 years’ leasehold basis, and we feel sure that our interests, no less than theirs and the interests of the colonies themselves, Canada and Newfoundland, will be served thereby.” I Assault and Victory The Daily Mail says: Our own and other nations, including our enemies, will recognise in Mr Churchill’s speech a transition from the days of anxiety to days of confidence. It rings with an authentic promise of assault and victory.”