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, of 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
tanks, 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 track. Behind them there are now appearing infantry in lorries,
and behind them, again, the large masses are moving forward. The
re-groupment 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 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, well-equipped armies
numbering three or four millions of men can be overcome in the
space of a few weeks, or even months, by a scoop, or raid of mechanized
vehicles, however formidable. We may look with confidence to the
stabilisation of the Front in France, and to the general engagement
of the masses, which will enable the qualities of the French and
British soldiers to be matched squarely against those of their
adversaries. For myself, I have invincible confidence in the French
Army and its leaders. Only a very small part of that splendid
Army has yet been heavily engaged; and only a very small part
of France has yet been invaded. There is a good evidence to show
that practically the whole of the specialized and mechanized forces
of the enemy have been already thrown into the battle; and we
know that very heavy losses have been inflict 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 must cast away
the idea of resisting behind concrete lines or natural obstacles,
and must realize 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 own battle as well
as that of France. May 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 lace and are taking
place. At the same time, our heavy bombers are striking nightly
at the taproot of German mechanized power, and have already inflicted
serious damage upon the oil refineries on 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 ensure it; and to retaliate against it --
to any extent that the unwritten laws of war permit. There will
be many men and many women in the Island who when the ordeal comes
upon them, as come it will, will feel comfort, and even a pride,
that they are sharing the perils of our 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 not
this 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 the weapons and ammunition
they need. We must have, and have quickly, more aeroplanes, more
tanks, more shells, more guns. There is imperious need for these
vital munitions. They increase our strength against the powerfully
armed enemy. They replace the wastage of the obstinate struggle;
and the knowledge that wastage will 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 the
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 of which they are capable. The interests of property,
the hours of labour, are nothing compared with the struggle of
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 form 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 the 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 - side
by side, 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."
