Evening star., 1941-09-26
Text of Windsor's Speech
Duke Tells Press Club Audience
Empire Resolved to Destroy Evil Forces

g.. FOLLOWING is the tert OF the
address giUen by the Duke OF
Windsor before the National
Press Club yesterday afternoon.
II Is very interesting to come to
Washington at the present time
and I thank you for giving me this
opportunity of meeting you all this
afternoon. 1t reminds me OF a
similar occasion almost % years
ago when I was the guest of the
National Press Club during my first
visit to Washington. AS the ar
rangements for these proceedings do
not seem to permit of much indi-
vdual conversation, I am going to
ask YOU to bear with me for few
minutes while I speak to you COL
lectively.
I would like, first of all, to say a
few words about the British colony
of which I have been governor for
over a year. Of course, when Lon
don and the other cities were bonn
barded and Great Britain was
threatened with invasion, I could
not help wishing, like every Briton
In every part of the world, to share
the fortunes of my countrymen at
home. In war time, however, one
serves wherever one is told and al
though it is very different post to
the ones I held in the first World
War, l have applied myself to the
administration of the Bahamas to
the best Of my ability.
Economically Linked to u. S.
Throughout their history, the
Bahamas have been intimately and
In large measure economically
connected with America and from
their proximity to Florida, an
especially close and friendly contact
has always existed with that State.
War conditions have to some ex-
tentS Isolated the colony temporarily
from the mainland and the supply
of its essential imported commodi-
ties have naturally become reduced.
Life is hard in the Bahamas today
and while the people are glad to
bear without complaint any sacri-
fees that hostilities may impose, it
Is my duty as governor to further
their interests whenever these do
not conflict with the war effort.
For this reason, am availing my
self Of the few hours am spending
in Washington to explore means
whereby serious unemployment in
the Bahamas may be averted and
at the same time a way out in the
event of circumstances proving too
strong to avoid it. Meanwhile, I
have in full agreement with my
Executive Council instigated legis-
lation with view to lessening the
,hardships of the working people
and improving the conditions under
which they live.
The Bahamas are proud to have
become a link in the chain of
American bases in the British West
Indies, for only quite recently, the
Navy Department have selected a
site on the island of Great Exuma,
where construction of seaplane
base has begun this week. AS
governor, I can assure your navy
OF our cordial cooperation in the
working out of all details which in
volve our mutual interest and that
we look forward to contributing
with your naval men to the great
scheme on which our two countries
have embarked in the Caribbean
and which is bound to become i'm
portant in the future of the West
Gern Hemisphere. z=7 zss go h
Policy to Aid U. S.
But I would like to make it clear
that the British have not regarded
these bases solely as the purchase
price for much needed American
destroyers. although that was the
form in which the arrangement was
made. 1t is the settled policy Of
Y1-sAs