I SPEAK TO YOU FOR THE
FIRST time as Prime Minister in a solemn hour for the life of our
country, of our Empire, of our Allies, and above all the cause of
freedom. A tremendous battle is raging in France and Flanders.The
Germans, by a remarkable combination of air bombing and heavily
armoured attacks have broken through the French defences north of the
Maginot Line and strong columns of their armoured vehicles are
ravaging the open country, which for the first day or two was without
defenders. They have penetrated deeply and spread alarm and confusion
in their trick. Behind them there are now appearing infantry in
lorries, and behind them, again, the large masses are moving forward.
The regroupment of the French armies to make head against, and also
to strike at, this intruding wedge has been proceeding for several
days, largely assisted by the magnificent efforts of the Royal Air
Force.
We must not allow ourselves to be intimidated
by the presence of these armoured -vehicles in unexpected places
behind our lines. If they are behind our Front, the French are also
at many points fighting actively behind theirs. Both sides are
therefore in an extremely dangerous position. And if the French Army,
and our own Army are well handled, as I believe they will be; if the
French retain that genius for recovery, and counterattack for which
they have so long been famous; and if the British Army shows the
dogged endurance and solid fighting power of of which there have been
so many examples in the past - then a sudden transformation of the
scene might spring into being.
It would be foolish, however to disguise the
gravity of the hour. It would be still more foolish to lose heart and
courage or to suppose that well-trained and well-equipped armies
numbering three to four millions of men can be overcome in the space
of a few, weeks, or even months, by a scoop, or raid of mechanised
vehicles, however formidable. We may look with confidence to the
stablisization of the Front in France, and to the general engagement
of the masses which will enable the qualities of the the French and
British soldiers to to be matched squarely against those of their
adversaries. For myself, I have the invincible confidence in the
French Army and its leaders. Only a very small part of that Army has
yet been heavily engaged; and only a very small part of France has
yet been invaded. There is good evidence to show that practically the
whole of the specialised mechanised forces of the enemy have already
been thrown into the battle; and we know that very heavy losses have
been inflicted upon them. No officer or man, no brigade or
division,which grapples at close quarters with the enemy, wherever
encountered, can fail to make a worthy contribution to the general
result. The armies by cast away the idea of resisting behind concrete
lines or natural obstacles, and must realise that mastery can only be
regained by furious and unrelenting assault. And this spirit must not
only animate the High Command, but must inspire every fighting man.
In the air - often at serious odds - often at odds hitherto thought
overwhelming - we have been clawing down three or four to one of our
enemies; and the relative balance of the British and German Air
Forces is now considerably more favourable to us than at the
beginning of the battle. In cutting down the German bombers, we are
fighting our battle as well as that of France. My confidence in our
ability to fight it out to the finish with the German Air force has
been strengthened by the fierce encounters which have taken place and
are taking place. At the same time our heavy bombers are striking
nightly at the tap root of German mechanised power, and have already
inflicted serious damage upon the oil refineries which the Nazi
effort to dominate the world directly depends.
We must expect that as soon as stability is
reached on the Western Front, the bulk of that hideous apparatus of
aggression which gashed Holland into ruin and slavery in a few days,
will be turned upon us. I am sure I speak for all when I say we are
ready to face it; to endure it; and to retaliate against it - to any
extant that the unwritten laws of war permit.
There will be, many men, and many women, in
this island, who when the ordeal comes upon them, as come it will,
will feel comfort, and even pride - that they are sharing the perils
of the lads at the front - soldiers, sailors and airmen, God bless
them - and are drawing away from them a part at least of the
onslaught they have to bear. Is this not the appointed time for all
to make the utmost exertions in their power? If the battle is to be
won, we must provide our men with ever increasing quantities of
weapons and ammunition they need. We must have, and have quickly,
more aeroplanes, more tanks, more shells, more guns. There is an
imperious need for these munitions. They increase our strength
against the powerfully armed enemy. They replace the wastage of
obstinate struggle; and the knowledge that wastage will be speedily
be replaced enables us to draw more readily upon our reserves and
throw them in now that everything counts so much.
Our task is not only to win the battle - but to
win the War. After this battle in France abates its force, there will
come the battle for our island - for all that Britain is, and all
that Britain means - that will be the struggle. In that supreme
emergency we shall not hesitate to take every step, even the most
drastic, to call forth from our people, the last ounce and the last
inch of effort they are capable. The interests of property, the hours
of labour, are nothing compared with the struggle for life and
honour, for right and freedom, to which we have vowed
ourselves.
I have received from the Chiefs of the French
Republic, and in particular from its indomitable Prime Minister, M
Reynaud, the most sacred pledges that whatever happens they will
fight to the end, be it bitter or be it glorious. Nay, if we fight to
the end, it can only be glorious.
Having received His Majesty's commission, I
have formed an administration of men and women of every party and of
almost every point of view. We have differed and quarrelled in the
past; but now one bond unites us all - to wage war until victory is
won, and never to surrender ourselves to servitude and shame,
whatever the cost and agony may be. This is one of the most
awe-striking periods in the long history of France and Britain. It is
also beyond doubt the most sublime. Side by side, unaided except by
their kith and kin in the great Dominions and by the wide Empires
which rest beneath their shield, the British and French peoples have
advanced to rescue not only Europe, but mankind from the foulest and
most soul-destroying tyranny which has ever darkened and stained the
pages of history. Behind them - behind us - behind the armies and
fleets of Britain and France - gather a group of shattered States and
bludgeoned races: the Czechs, the Poles, the Norwegians, the Danes,
the Dutch, the Belgians - upon all of whom the long night of
barbarism will descend, unbroken even by a star of hope, unless we
conquer, as conquer we must; as conquer we shall.
Today is Trinity Sunday. Centuries ago words
were written to be a call and a spur to the faithful servants of
Truth and Justice: 'Arm yourselves, and be ye men of valour, and be
in readiness for the conflict; for it is better for us to perish in
battle than to look upon the outrage of our nation and our altar. As
the Will of God is in Heaven, even so let it be.'
