Evening star., 1943-03-22

III Placements.
representatives. the whole max
ing council Of great states and
groups of states.
1t is my earnest hope, though
I can hardly expect to see it full
filled in my lifetime. that we
shall achieve the largest common
measure Of the integrated life Of
Europe that is possible without
destroying the individual char
acteristicS and traditions of its
many ancient and historic races.
All this will, l believe, be found
to harmonic with the high
permanent interests of Britain,
the United States and Russia.
1t certainly cannot be accom-
plished without their cordial and
concerted agreement and direct
participation. Thus and thus
only will the glory Of Europe
rise again.
Foolish to Argue
Until War Is Won.
I only mention these matters
to you to show the magnitude of
the task that will lie before us
in Europe and in Europe alone.
Nothing could be more foolish
at this stage than to plunge into
details and try to prescribe the
exact groupings Of states or lay
down precise machinery for their
cooperation or still more to argue
about frontiers now while the
war even in the west has not yet
reached its full height, while
struggle with U-boats is raging
and when the war in the Far
East is only in its first phase.
This does not mean that many
tentative discussions are not TAX
ing place between the great ma
tions concerned or that the whole
vast problem of European destiny
for that is what I am speaking
of noW-is not a subject of
ceaseless heart SearchingS.
We must remember, however,
that we in Britain and the Brit
lSh Commonwealth of Nations,
although almost a world in our
selves, will have to reach agree
mentS with great and friendly
equals and also to respect and
have care for the rights of weaker
and smaller states, and that it
will no n
nation to achieve full satisfac-
ton of its individual wishes.
1 have said enough, however,
/ am sure, to show you at least
in outline the mystery and peril
and, I will add, the splendor of
this vast sphere of practical &C
ton into which we shall have
to leap once the hldeous spell of
Nazi tyranny has been broken.
Coming nearer home, we shall
have to consider at the same time
how the inhabitants OF this island
are going to get their living at
this stage in the world story and
how they are going TO maintain
any ~ cE tsoolNNIF Iii DlDRt IlltIl
previous standards of life and
labor.
I am very much attracted to
the idea that we should make
and proclaim what might be
called the four years plan. -Four
years seems to me to be the right
length for a period of transition
and reconstruction which will
follow the downfall of Hitler.
We have five-year parliaments
and the four year plan would
give time for preparation of
second plan. This four years
plan would cover five or six
large measures of practical char
acter which must all have been
the subject Of prolonged careful,
energetic preparation before
hand and which fit together into
the general scheme.
When this plan has been
shaped it will have to be pre-
Sented to the country, either by
the national government. for
nldIIF representative as TINS one
is Of the three parties in the
state, or by a national govern
ment comprising the best men in
all parties who are willing to
serve. l cannot tell how these
matters will settle themselves.
But by 1884 our present Parlia-
ment will have lived nine years.
and by l945 10 years, and as soon
AS the defeat Of Germany has
removed the danger now at our
throatS and the register can be
compiled and other necessary ar
rangementS made the new House
OF Commons must be freely
chosen by the whole electorate
including, Of course. the armed
forces, wherever they may be.
Difficult and Anxious
Period Lies Ahead.
Thus. whoever is burdened with
the responsibility of conducting
affairs Will have a clear policy
and will be able to speak and act
at least in the name of an Of