e allowed to slip away then indeed catastrophe may overwhelm us all.
last time i saw it all coming and i cried aloud to my own fellow-countrymen and to the world, but no one paid any attention. up till the year 1933 or even 1935, germany might have been saved from the awful fate which has overtaken here and we might all have been spared the miseries hitler let loose upon mankind. there never was a war in history easier to prevent by timely action than the one which has just desolated such great areas of the globe. it could have been prevented in my belief without the firing of a single shot, and germany might be powerful, prosperous and honored today; but no one would listen and one by one we were all sucked into the awful whirlpool. we surely, ladies and gentlemen, i put it to you, surely, we must not let it happen again. this can only be achieved by reaching now, in 1946, by reaching a good understanding on all points with russia under the general authority of the united nations organization and by the maintenance of that good understanding through many peaceful years, by the whole strength of the english-speaking world and all its connections. there is the solution which i respectfully offer to you in this address to which i have given the title, “the sinews of peace”.
let no man underrate the abiding power of the british empire and commonwealth. because you see the 46 millions in our island harassed about their food supply, of which they only grow one half, even in war-time, or because we have difficulty in restarting our industries and export trade after six years of passionate war effort, do not suppose we shall not come through these dark years of privation as we have come through the glorious years of agony. do not suppose that half a century from now you will not see 70 or 80 millions of britons spread about the world united in defense of our traditions, and our way of life, and of the world causes which you and
<< 上一页 [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] 下一页