Evening star., 1941-11-10

A1le w AS114A\ ~ l. OA>e
opposed in the Pacific to states
whose populations comprise nearly
three -fourths of the human race.
II steel is the basic foundation
OF modern war. it would be rather
dangerous for power like Japan,
whose steel production is only about
7,OO0,OOO tons a Year, to provoke,
quite gratuitously, struggle with
the United States, whose steel pro-
duction Wis now about 10000 900
tons-and this takes no account of
the powerful contribution which the
British Empire can make in various
ways.
I hope devoutly that the peace OF
the Pacific will be preserved in ac-
cordance with the known wishes OF
the wisest statesmen of Japan. But
every preparation to defend British
interests in the Far East and to de-
tend the common cause now at stake
has been and is being made.
Chang Kai-shek Lauded.
Meanwhile, how can we watch
without emotion the wonderful de-
fense of their native soil and OF
their freedom and independence
which has been maintained single
handed for five long years by the
Chinese people under the leadership
of that great Asiatic hero and COM
mander, Gen. Chang Kaishek.
1t would be disaster of the first
magnitude to world civilization If
the noble resistance to invasion and
exploitation which has been made
by the whole Chinese race were not
to result in the liberation OF their
hearths and homes. That I feel is
the sentiment deep in all of our
hearts.
To return for a moment before /
sit down to the contrast between our
position now and year ago. must
remind you'll don't need to remind
you here in the city-that at this
time last year We did not know
"llCl " tul IL 1Ol OOlidt os Nti
severe measures We had been able
to spend in America about 00000,-
900 pounds sterling. But the end OF
our financial resources was in sight
nay, it had been actually reached.
"Most Unsordid Act In History"
All we could do at that time a
year ago was to place orders in the
United States without being able 10
see our way through, but on tide
of hope and not without important
encouragement then came the ma
jestic policy of the President and
Congress of the United States IN
passing the lease-and-lend bill un-
der which in two successive enact
ments about 3000000,00 pounds
sterling were dedicated to the cause
of world freedom without-mark
this. for 1t is uniQue-the setting
up of any account in money.
Never again let us hear the taunt
that money is the ruling thought
in the hearts OF the American
democracy. The lend-lease bill must
be regarded without question as the
most unsordid act in the whole OF
recorded history.
We, for our part, have not been
found unworthy of the increasing
aid We are receiving.
We have made unparalleled finan-
cial and economic sacrifices our
selves and now that the Govern
ment and people Of the United
States have declared their resolve
that the aid they are giving shall
reach the fighting lines. We shall
be able to strike with all our might
and main.
Thus We may, without exposing
ourselves to any charge of complac.
ency. without in the slightest degree
relaxing the intensity OF our wal
effort. give thanks to Almighty Coo
for the many wonders which hav,
been wrought in SO brief space O
time and we may derive fresh con-
fldence from all that has happened
and bend ourselves to our task witt
all the force that is in our souls
with every drop Of blood in oul
veins.
We are told from many quarter!
that We must soon expect what /!
called a peace offensive from Berlin
All the usual signs and symptom:
are already manifested tas the For.
ei?n Secretary will confirm in neu.
trail countries. All those signs poin1
in one direction, they all show thai
the guilty men who have let hel
loose upon the world are hoping t.
escape with their f1eeting triumph.
and ill-gotten plunder from the clos.
ing net of doom.
We owe it to ourselves, we owe il
to our Russian allies. and to the Gov.
ernment and people of the United
States to make it absolutely cleal
that whether We are supported OF
alone, however long and hard thu
toll may be, the British nation ane
His Majesty's government at tn.
head of that nation. in intimate con.
cert with the governments of tn,
great dominions. will never enter
into any negotiation with Hitler OF
with any party in Germany which
represents the Nazi regime.
In that resolve we're sure tha
the ancient city of London will b,
with us to the hilt and to the end