Evening star., 1944-02-22


friendship and . rebirth Of sus-
picion.
The House cheered as he added
IT feel fully entitled to reassure the
house on that important point
The Allies, are declared, "are
equally resolved to pursue the war
at whatever cost to a victorious con-
clusion and they believe that wide
field of friendly cooperation lies be-
fore them after the destruction OF
Hitlerite Germany"
Britain is intensely interested in
maintaining Poland,s independence
the Prime Minister continued, and
is convinced that repeated Moscow
declarations for q strong, independ-
ent Poland represent the settled
policy Of the Soviet Union"
II have intense sympathy for the
Poles, but I also have sympathy with
the Russian standpoint" he added
Il cannot feel that Russias de-
mand for reinsurance about her
western frontier goes beyond the
limits of what is reasonable or just. -
Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden
is working with the Poles, seeking
a working agreement pending q
postwar boundary settlement and q
new statement may be made soon
the Prime Minister continued.
Il always have been of the opin-
ion that matters of boundary re-
adjustments should wait until the
end of the war but the fact that
the Russians now are fighting in
Poland made 1t indispensable that
some arrangements be arrived at
Mr.. Churchill said.
He declared that unconditional
surrender does not mean the Ger
man people will be enslaved or de-
stroyed"
1T means, however, that the
Allies will not be bound to them at
the moment of surrender by any
pact or obligation" Churchill said.
There will be no question, for in
stance, of the Atlantic Charter ap-
plying to Germany as q matter Of
right and barring territorial trans
ferences or adjustments in enemy
countries.
No such arguments will be ad-
mitted by us, as they were used by
Germany after the last war, saving
that they surrendered in conse-
quence of President Wilson's IA
points. Unconditional surrender
means that the victors will have a
free hand 1t does not mean that
they are entitled to behave in a
barbarous manner, nor that they
wish to blot out Germany from
among the nations Of Europe"
Mr.. Churchill was in good humor
and evoked frequent applause and
laughter as he reassured the house
Of the progress of the war in Italy,
at sea, and in the air.
First Review Since Parleys.
He spoke for an hour and 18 min
utes in his first review Of the war
since the Teheran and Cairo con-
ferences and since he was taken III
with pneumonia in North Africa.
In his statement on the length
Of the war, the Prime Minister said
Il have never taken the view that
the end OF the war in Europe is at
hand or that Hitler is about to col
lapse. and have certainly given nc
guarantee or even held out any
expectation that the year 1914 will
see the end of the European war
nor have I given any guarantee the
other way
Mr.. Churchill placed the strength
Of the German Army at about 30C
divisions, although many of these
have been substantially reduced ir
number-but said their fighting
quality was still high.
Turning to the bombing offensive
on Germany, the Prime Minister
said this, while absorbing 5000 0Ot
Germans. had drawn with other
British and American activities
four -fifths Of the German fighte,
force.
This also has been Of some as.
sistance to the Soviet Union. Thi,
statement should be made in jus.
tice to the western Allies" he said
Excluding Dominion and Alliec
squadrons working with the RAF
the British Isles lost $500 pilot.
and air crews killed and 10 400 miss.
ing and more than 10000 aircraft
since the war began and made
nearly 100000 sorties in the North
European theater.
5000 Tons Dropped.
In the four most recent raids BY
British and American aircraft OF
Germany, 5000 dong tons ol
bombs were dropped
These constitute the most vio-
lent attacks which have ever vel
been made on Germany and they
also prove the value OF satura tior
in every aspect of the air war.
THE spring and summer will
show a vast increase in the force
Of attacks directed on military tar.
gets in Germany and German
occupied countries.
"Long-range bombing from Italy