I beg to move, that this House welcomes the formation
of a Government representing the united and inflexible resolve
of the nation to prosecute the war with Germany to a victorious
conclusion.
On Friday evening last I received His Majesty's
commission to form a new Administration. It as the evident wish
and will of Parliament and the nation that this should be conceived
on the broadest possible basis and that it should include all
parties, both those who supported the late Government and also
the parties of the Opposition. I have completed the most important
part of this task. A War Cabinet has been formed of five Members,
representing, with the Opposition Liberals, the unity of the nation.
The three party Leaders have agreed to serve, either in the War
Cabinet or in high executive office. The three Fighting Services
have been filled. It was necessary that this should be done in
one single day, on account of the extreme urgency and rigour of
events. A number of other positions, key positions, were filled
yesterday, and I am submitting a further list to His Majesty tonight.
I hope to complete the appointment of the principal Ministers
during tomorrow. The appointment of the other Ministers usually
takes a little longer, but I trust that, when Parliament meets
again, this part of my task will be completed, and that the administration
will be complete in all respects.
I considered it in the public interest to suggest
that the House should be summoned to meet today. Mr. Speaker agreed,
and took the necessary steps, in accordance with the powers conferred
upon him by the Resolution of the House. At the end of the proceedings
today, the Adjournment of the House will be proposed until Tuesday,
21st May, with, of course, provision for earlier meeting, if need
be. The business to be considered during that week will be notified
to Members at the earliest opportunity. I now invite the House,
by the Motion which stands in my name, to record its approval
of the steps taken and to declare its confidence in the new Government.
To form an Administration of this scale and complexity
is a serious undertaking in itself, but it must be remembered
that we are in the preliminary stage of one of the greatest battles
in history, that we are in action at many other points in Norway
and in Holland, that we have to be prepared in the Mediterranean,
that the air battle is continuous and that many preparations,
such as have been indicated by my hon. Friend below the Gangway,
have to be made here at home. In this crisis I hope I may be pardoned
if I do not address the House at any length today. I hope that
any of my friends and colleagues, or former colleagues, who are
affected by the political reconstruction, will make allowance,
all allowance, for any lack of ceremony with which it has been
necessary to act. I would say to the House, as I said to those
who have joined this government: "I have nothing to offer
but blood, toil, tears and sweat."
We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous
kind. We have before us many, many long months of struggle and
of suffering. You ask, what is our policy? I can say: It is to
wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our might and with all
the strength that God can give us; to wage war against a monstrous
tyranny, never surpassed in the dark, lamentable catalogue of
human crime. That is our policy. You ask, what is our aim? I can
answer in one word: It is victory, victory at all costs, victory
in spite of all terror, victory, however long and hard the road
may be; for without victory, there is no survival. Let that be
realised; no survival for the British Empire, no survival for
all that the British Empire has stood for, no survival for the
urge and impulse of the ages, that mankind will move forward towards
its goal. But I take up my task with buoyancy and hope. I feel
sure that our cause will not be suffered to fail among men. At
this time I feel entitled to claim the aid of all, and I say,
"come then, let us go forward together with our united strength."
