June 19.
With Marshal Petain's request for information as to the terms upon which peace can avenged between France and the Axis Powers the fact has to be faced that Germany together with the belated assistance of Italy, has secured a stupendous victory. It is re~ ported that France will insist upon peace with honour, while German reports state that only an unconditional surrender will be ac~ cepted. Consequently it remains to be seen during the next day or so exactly what the dictators will demand from" France. Let there be no criticism of the French in making the decision they. did. The new Cabinet, composed largely of military and naval ex:
ets, viewed the situation in the light of reality, and while their decision is (0 be reigeetted the fact remains that the French have fought against overwhelming odds with the courage and endurance which is tradition" ally theirs. In the eyes of her Ally, if indeed the Axis Powers offered terms which France could accept, and did so, the honour of France would stand undiminished. Her sons have Neovered themselves with immortal glory, mak {ng sacrifices on the battlefield in order'to ict grievous harm upon the enemy. Her daughters have been equally courageous in the performance of the various duties which the conduct of the war has forced upon them, and there can be nothing but the profoundest admiration for a nation which has acquitted itself so well in such tragic cir= cumstances. From the British Empire, from every friendly neutral in the world, there wilt be nothing but sympathy with France in this her darkest hour. There will be no reproach, and most certainly none from those who have fought beside her- Rather will there a greater determination that France shall yet enjoy the victory of the common cause. that Great Britain will continue her efforts! until success is assured, and France again' enabled to stand erect in freedom the great, and gallant nation she has ever been, These are no, idle words; they come from a realization of the great part France has played in the world and will continue to play, from the Kenowledge that all that is ood in the French civilization will continue despite this present grave misfortune.
Britons in this time of trial would do well to face the facts coolly and calmly. Mr. Winston Churchill has already announced the determination of the British Empire to fight fon, Tt will do so as the last bulwark of democracy in Europe. There undoubtedly: lies ahead of the Empire months, indeed years, of arduous struggle, when every en= deavour of the Empire as a whole, and of Its individual components will be bent toward Ibeinging about the defeat of enemies who if they were to succeed would make life not worth living. Britons will never submit to the conditions which would reduce them to mere helots. Rather will they fight to the Gouth. TI is part of their traditional history, and never do they fight better than when facing fearful odds, Tt should be remember= that 'AIL our past proclaims our future: Shake~ speare's voice and Nelson's. hand, Milton's faith and Wordsworth's trust in this Our chosen and chaintess land, Bear us witness! come the world against her England yet shall stand.
That is the spirit in which the future must faced. The times ahead will make demands upon Britons all over the world such us they have never met before. Man, woman und even child must combine in a fixity of purpose that this dread menace which throws Its gloomy shadow over so much of Europe shall be destroyed for all time, that the sun of freedom may again shine in'all lands, and that men shall be allowed to live their lives peace There is thus dele-hated to the British Empire the gravest responsibility it has ever had to accept, a holy sar in defence of all those ideals for which the British have fought during Jong century les. No one for a moment will believe that the path which has to be trodden will not! bea long and "painful one. Destiny demands that it shall be followed and every:
Toyal son of Britain will do so. There can no longer be thought of self but a common unity of purpose to ensue that these evil things which now threaten the world shall be dispersed in complete and utter dete
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.