Evening star., 1941-02-10
ChurchiII's Empire Report

ed radio broadcast turned out to be
Empire, relating In some detail the
events of the past five months since
his last Empire wide address, analyz-
ing the present situation, and
breathing restrained confidence in
ultimate victory while admitting the
probability of hard knocks in the
immediate future. Paying warm
tribute to the growing aid furnished
Britain by all parts of the Empire,
Churchill stated that with this
strengthening of the bonds of mu-
tual solidarity and affection within
the Empire, Britain's first war aim
had been attained.
That was virtually his only refer
ence to war aims or postwar poll
cieS 1t was fighting speech
throughout. Mussolini was branded
in terms of scathing contempt, vic
tories over the Italians in Africa and
Albania were glowingly dWelt upon,
and the decline and fall" of the new
Roman Empire was predicted, with
no need for the pen of a Gibbon to
relate the inglorious tale There was
no appeal to the Italian people to
overthrow their Duce Neither was
there any specific appeal to the
French people beyond a passing ref
erence to yesterdays bombardment
of Genoa by the British fleet. the
echoes of which, said Churchill,
might carry to nearby French listen
ers the tidings that Britannia still
rules the waves"
By implication the Prime Minister
admitted that Germany's hold on the
Balkans was strong, that the Balkan
countries were not convinced Britain
would win, and that Bulgaria was
virtually in the axis orbit This was
coupled with stern warning of the
consequences to Bulgaria, if, for the
third time, she should pick the wrong
side. However, this somewhat pes
Simistic note was offset by an asser-
tion of Britain's determination to
retain control of the central Medi-
terranean and the statement Of
heavy German air losses in the re-
cent attack on Malta.
Indirectly, the broadcast was ad-
dressed to US, from it's many refer
ence to America. Churchill told his
Empire listeners that America was
determined to help, that American
troops would not be needed, this
year, next year, nor any year I can
foresee," but that Britain needed
from the United States an immense
volume of supplies and of ships to
carry the supplies to their deStina-
ton. He disclosed the fact that, in
the letter of introduction borne by
Wendell Willkie, President Roosevelt
had quoted the verse from Long
fellows poem, The Building of the
Ships" beginning: Sail on. oh ship
OF state!" And, in answer, the Prime
Minister assured the President that
Britain would neither fail nor falter.
Give us the tools, and we shall fin
iSh the job" was his reSounding
peroration
Churchill obviously was in a fight
ing mood. That wicked man" Hit
Ter, was represented as preparing to
do his worst, but was depicted as
being surrounded on the continent
by rising tide of hatred and loath-
ing against German domination.
Though Nazi armies might range far,
Hitler must destroy Britain to win
the war and millions of well-armed
Britons, animated by the spirit of
conquer or die" awaited any at
tempt at invasion. I'VE shall outwit,
outmaneuver, Outright and outlast
the enemy" was the Prime Minister'S
confident assurance to his Empire
audience throughout the globe.