THE CHINA MAIL, SEPTEMBER 12, 1941.
CHINA MAIL
WINDSOR HOUSE
MR. CHURCHILL LEADS
Although Mr. Churchill gave a full recital of the relevant facts to any esti- mate of the war situation , to-day, he maintained the tone of warning against complacency that has marked all recent minis- terial speeches. Since this war began, the people of Britain have shown them- selves to be a singular people; they are inspired to action by bad news and
·
they seem positively to
flourish on reverses.
In
recent weeks, as the Prime]
Minister himself was com- pelled to admit, the news has been consistently good. In the Middle East, which Lord Moyne indi- cated was officially re- garded as Hitler's ulcer, our position has improv- ed beyond all recognition in twelve short months. We can say more confid- ently to-day than ever be- fore, thanks to Russia's intervention, and to the
SPEECH
NOT YET THE TIME TO CHEER.
Yotes
Fateful Decision
It is not necessary to explain to aid on gigantic scale and any intelligent Frenchman that growing of the United America has a direct and vital in States, that we
terest in the fate of the French are the
empire. The surrender of Indo- captain of our soul.
China has brought America to the verge of war in the Pacific. The surrender of the African empire would threaten the security of the Western Hemisphere and enlarg very greatly the scope and the probable duration of the conflict
Mr. Churchill, however. insists upon the peril of
in the Atlantic.
premature exultation. Never a man to be daunt- ed by gloomy tidings, a mighty whistler in the! dark, he bids his country-solemn pledges of Marshal Petain. men beware of tempta-thus proving that the Vichy re- tions to optimism. Thegime is not to be trusted in any
For the surrender of northwest Africa would not only violate the
agreement or political
relation-
pied territory causes the Dutch in army, and thanks to British sea the free world to think of sur- and air-power in the Mediterran rendering. Belgium is an occupied ean, and with the help of the very country, her King and her army substantial support which Ameri- would give, the are prisoners of war, her people ca could and subject to all the indignities and French empire can in fact be de- reprisals of the Nazi conqueror fended against Hitler. If it is not But the Belgian empite overseas defended, though Marshal Petain continues to be at war with Hit is pledged to defend it, it will be ler.
because the men of Vichy prefer a Hitler victory to the independe There is nothing that Hitler canjence and the honour of France; do to Frenchmen which he can- not do also to the Dutch and the Therefore, it would Belgians. never be possible to accept any explanation which said that Mar-
By Walter Lippmann
10
*
•
There are obviously Frenchmen | who have staked everything on a Hitler victory. A man like Laval could hardly expect to sur- vive and prosper in a liberated France; as a matter of fact he knows and says that his own life is forfelt if Her is defeated, Men in this position have not been. In full control in Vichy. The sur- render of Africa would place them' in full control and all Frenchmen. who participated in the surrender the whole Vichy regime would thereafter have as much reason to
defeat as Hitler fear a Nazi Goebbels or Himmler themselves.
contrast between this at- ship, but it would contribute in- titude and that of the disputable proof that the Vichy German High Command, government had been captured by covering up its difficulties men who have invested their lives with promises of "sensa- and their fortunes in a Nazi vic-
shal Petain had to break not only tional victories" to come, has been explained on the ground but that he had also to violate his For in the eyes of true French- tory. Much that Vichy has done the original alliance with Britain illuminates the gulf be
tween a regime which around his neck. But what knows it cannot survive a done in Africa, can never be failure and a Govern-plained in that way. ment so sure of its idènti-
*
鄹
was If Africa is surrendered, it will they would have committed ex-not be because there is no other unpardonable act of treachery.
choice but because there have prevailed in Vichy the men who wish to help Hitler win the war
Q
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Thus they would force France and friends of France, and then, first into war against the allies
as the Nazi occupation begins to fication with the people The Netherlands are also occu-
crumble under the impact of the and their cause that it can pied territory and Dutch soldiers
reason world-wide coalition that has THESE FACTS MAKE. utter warnings against are also prisoners of war and the than there is at this moment for now been formed their treachery overconfidence in success. Dutch people on the Continent are the surrender of French Africa. A would inexorably provoke a civil also at the mercy of the German case can be made out for the sur-war within France. For the render of Indo-Chinta on the liberation of France would then army and of the Nazi party. Nev, ground that there are no French require, not merely the expulsion but also. the ertheless the Dutch empire stands forces there capable of resisting of the Germans firm and nothing Hitler threatens Japan and that Britain and total destruction of the Vichy res
America did not deem it expedient gime. to do to the Dutch in the o occu- to make the occupation of Indo-
REMORSELESS
Chitta question of way and peace. But no such case can be made out for the surrenderỚI
Marshal Petain made one tragic miscalculation a year ago when, believing that the war was over,
Hitler is the prisoner of his conquests. As the tories in other theatres Africa. gaoler of Europe, he has proved that the Continent have been so swift. When For with Gaimany engaged in the refused to fight on from Afri- is not self-sufficient, and he cannot move like light- the great Russian campaign, Hitch. The war was not over, and
ler's activity in the whole Medit the forces aligned against Ger
are immensely he is therefore driven on ming his pace seems snail crranean basin his subsided. He many to-day and on by the remorseless like. His military feats is in no position to send motoris greater than when he made his
cd divisions into Africa. He has erroneous decision.
the situation is so
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MILK
WHAT IT IS
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necessity of acquiring in the past force him to had to let the Italians languish in
Libya, he has had to stand by That error could be retrieved more territory in order to perform ever greater ex- and site the British reliforce to-day by adhering loyally to his sustain what he has. He ploits lest the degend of Malta for offensive operations own pledges. If the pledges pre is likewise the victim of success blow up under the against the communications be broken, when t
Italy and Against favourable to honouring them, his own military success: fatal pricks of doubt. For the resistance of the British most favesia Petain will not only HONG KONG To-day, he is hard press- the attacked to stand is a alone, not to spealt of what the the French empire to Hitler for French fleet could contribute, it the duration of the war but he ed to explain the relative form of victory, but for is not at the moment. conceivable will prolong the war-perhaps for slowness of the advance in the attacker to slow down that Hitler could land any consid-years inniting Infinite suffering erable force for the Invasion of upon the bodies and deep misery Russia, because his vic is a form of defeat, sal Africa, Thanks to the Russian upon the souls of his peopl
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