June 1, 2015

Finest Hour 108, Autumn 2000

Page 52

The Japanese onslaught has brought upon the United States and Great Britain very serious injuries to our naval power.

In my whole experience I do not remember any naval blow so heavy or painful as the sinking of the Prince of Wales and the Repulse…

We have a very hard period to go through, and a new surge of impulse will be required, and will be forthcoming.

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We must, as I have said, faithfully keep our engagement to Russia in supplies, and at the same time we must expect, at any rate for the next few months, that the volume of American supplies reaching Britain and the degree of help given by the United States Navy will be reduced.

The gap will be filled, and only our own efforts will fill it.

I cannot doubt, however, now that the 130,000,000people in the United States have bound themselves to this war, that once they have settled down to it and have bent themselves to it—as they will— that the flow of munitions will vastly exceed anything that could have been expected on the peacetime basis….

Not only the British Empire now but the United States are fighting for life; Russia is fighting for life, and China is fighting for life.

Behind these four great combatant communities are ranged the spirit and the hopes of all the conquered countries in Europe, prostrate under the cruel domination of the foe.

I said the other day that four-fifths of the human race were on our side.

It may well be an understatement.

Just these gangs and cliques of wicked men and their military or party organisations have been able to bring these hideous evils upon mankind.

It would indeed bring shame upon our generation if we did not teach them a lesson which will not be forgotten in the records of a thousand years.

WSC, HOUSE OF COMMONS, 11 DECEMBER 1941