Today is the
second anniversary of the Munich Agreement, a date which the world
will always remember for the tragic sacrifice made by the
Czechoslovakia people in the interest of European peace.
The hopes which this agreement stirred in the
heart of civilised mankind have been frustrated. Within six
months the solemn pledges given by unscrupulous men who control the
destiny of Germany were broken, and the agreement destroyed with a
ruthlessness which unmasked the true nature of their reckless
ambitions to the whole world.
In this hour of your martyrdom I send you this
message: The battle which we in Britain are fighting today is not
only our battle. It is also your battle, and, indeed, the battle of
all nations who prefer liberty to soulless serfdom. It is the
struggle of civilised nations for the right to live their own life in
the manner of their own choosing. It represents man's instinctive
defiance of tyranny and of an impersonal universe.
Throughout history no European nation has shown
a greater will to survive than yours, and today again your people
have given countless proofs of their courage in adversity. Here in
Britain we have welcomed with pride and gratitude your soldiers and
airmen who have come by daring escape to take part with
ever-increasing success in that battle for Britain which is also the
battle for Czechoslovakia.
It is because we both are fighting for the
fundamental decencies of human life that we are determined that
neither our struggle nor your struggle shall be in vain. It is for
this reason that we have refused to recognise any of the brutal
conquests of Germany in Central Europe and elsewhere, that we have
welcomed a Czechoslovakia Provisional Government in this country, and
that we have made the restoration of Czechoslovakia liberties one of
our principal war aims.
With firmness and resolution, two qualities
which our nations share in equal measure, these aims will be
achieved. Be of good cheer.The hour of your deliverance will
come. The soul of freedom is deathless. It cannot and will not
perish.
