精彩英语励志演讲稿
《WinstonChurchill'sIronCurtainSpeech》
WinstonChurchillpresentedhisSinewsofPeace（theIronCurtainSpeech），atWestminsterCollegeinFultonMissourionMarch51946.
PresidentMcCluerladiesandgentlemenandlastbutcertainlynotleastthePresidentoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica:
IamverygladindeedtocometoWestminsterCollegethisafternoonandIamcomplimentedthatyoushouldgivemeadegreefromaninstitutionwhosereputationhasbeensosolidlyestablished.Thename“Westminster”somehoworotherseemsfamiliartome.IfeelasifIhaveheardofitbefore.IndeednowthatIcometothinkofititwasatWestminsterthatIreceivedaverylargepartofmyeducationinpoliticsdialecticrhetoricandoneortwootherthings.Infactwehavebothbeeneducatedatthesameorsimilaroratanyratekindredestablishments.
ItisalsoanhonorladiesandgentlemenperhapsalmostuniqueforaprivatevisitortobeintroducedtoanacademicaudiencebythePresidentoftheUnitedStates.Amidhisheavyburdensdutiesandresponsibilities--unsoughtbutnotrecoiledfrom--thePresidenthastraveledathousandmilestodignifyandmagnifyourmeetinghereto-dayandtogivemeanopportunityofaddressingthiskindrednationaswellasmyowncountrymenacrosstheoceanandperhapssomeothercountriestoo.ThePresidenthastoldyouthatitishiswishasIamsureitisyoursthatIshouldhavefulllibertytogivemytrueandfaithfulcounselintheseanxiousandbafflingtimes.IshallcertainlyavailmyselfofthisfreedomandfeelthemorerighttodosobecauseanyprivateambitionsImayhavecherishedinmyyoungerdayshavebeensatisfiedbeyondmywildestdreams.LetmehowevermakeitclearthatIhavenoofficialmissionorstatusofanykindandthatIspeakonlyformyself.Thereisnothingherebutwhatyousee.
IcanthereforeallowmymindwiththeexperienceofalifetimetoplayovertheproblemswhichbesetusonthemorrowofourabsolutevictoryinarmsandtotrytomakesurewithwhatstrengthIhavethatwhathasgainedwithsomuchsacrificeandsufferingshallbepreservedforthefuturegloryandsafetyofmankind.
LadiesandgentlementheUnitedStatesstandsatthistimeatthepinnacleofworldpower.ItisasolemnmomentfortheAmericanDemocracy.Forwithprimacyinpowerisalsojoinedanawe-inspiringaccountabilitytothefuture.Ifyoulookaroundyouyoumustfeelnotonlythesenseofdutydonebutalsoyoumustfeelanxietylestyoufallbelowthelevelofachievement.Opportunityishereandnowclearandshiningforbothourcountries.Torejectitorignoreitorfritteritawaywillbringuponusallthelongreproachesoftheafter-time.ItisnecessarythattheconstancyofmindpersistencyofpurposeandthegrandsimplicityofdecisionshallruleandguidetheconductoftheEnglish-speakingpeoplesinpeaceastheydidinwar.WemustandIbelieveweshallproveourselvesequaltothissevererequirement.
PresidentMcCluerwhenAmericanmilitarymenapproachsomeserioussituationtheyarewonttowriteattheheadoftheirdirectivethewords“over-allstrategicconcept”.Thereiswisdominthisasitleadstoclarityofthought.Whatthenistheover-allstrategicconceptwhichweshouldinscribeto-day?Itisnothinglessthanthesafetyandwelfarethefreedomandprogressofallthehomesandfamiliesofallthemenandwomeninallthelands.AndhereIspeakparticularlyofthemyriadcottageorapartmenthomeswherethewage-earnerstrivesamidtheaccidentsanddifficultiesoflifetoguardhiswifeandchildrenfromprivationandbringthefamilyupthefearoftheLordoruponethicalconceptionswhichoftenplaytheirpotentpart.
Togivesecuritytothesecountlesshomestheymustbeshieldedformtwogauntmarauderswarandtyranny.Wealknowthefrightfuldisturbanceinwhichtheordinaryfamilyisplungedwhenthecurseofwarswoopsdownuponthebread-winnerandthoseforwhomheworksandcontrives.TheawfulruinofEuropewithallitsvanishedgloriesandoflargepartsofAsiaglaresusintheeyes.WhenthedesignsofwickedmenortheaggressiveurgeofmightyStatesdissolveoverlargeareastheframeofcivilizedsocietyhumblefolkareconfrontedwithdifficultieswithwhichtheycannotcope.Forthemisalldistortedallisbrokenallisevengroundtopulp.
WhenIstandherethisquietafternoonIshuddertovisualizewhatisactuallyhappeningtomillionsnowandwhatisgoingtohappeninthisperiodwhenfaminestalkstheearth.Nonecancomputewhathasbeencalled“theunestimatedsumofhumanpain”.Oursupremetaskanddutyistoguardthehomesofthecommonpeoplefromthehorrorsandmiseriesofanotherwar.Weareallagreedonthat.
OurAmericanmilitarycolleaguesafterhavingproclaimedtheir“over-allstrategicconcept”andcomputedavailableresourcesalwaysproceedtothenextstep--namelythemethod.Hereagainthereiswidespreadagreement.Aworldorganizationhasalreadybeenerectedfortheprimepurposeofpreventingwar.UNOthesuccessoroftheLeagueofNationswiththedecisiveadditionoftheUnitedStatesandallthatthatmeansisalreadyatwork.WemustmakesurethatitsworkisfruitfulthatitisarealityandnotashamthatitisaforceforactionandnotmerelyafrothingofwordsthatitisatruetempleofpeaceinwhichtheshieldsofmanynationscansomedaybehungupandnotmerelyacockpitinaTowerofBabel.Beforewecastawaythesolidassurancesofnationalarmamentsforself-preservationwemustbecertainthatourtempleisbuiltnotuponshiftingsandsorquagmiresbutuponarock.Anyonecanseewithhiseyesopenthatourpathwillbedifficultandalsolongbutifweperseveretogetheraswedidinthetwoworldwars--thoughnotalasintheintervalbetweenthem--Icannotdoubtthatweshallachieveourcommonpurposeintheend.
Ihavehoweveradefiniteandpracticalproposaltomakeforaction.Courtsandmagistratesmaybesetupbuttheycannotfunctionwithoutsheriffsandconstables.TheUnitedNationsOrganizationmustimmediatelybegintobeequippedwithaninternationalarmedforce.Insuchamatterwecanonlygostepbystepbutwemustbeginnow.IproposethateachofthePowersandStatesshouldbeinvitedtodedicateacertainnumberofairsquadronstotheserviceoftheworldorganization.Thesesquadronswouldbetrainedandpreparedintheirowncountriesbutwouldmovearoundinrotationfromonecountrytoanother.Theywouldweartheuniformsoftheirowncountriesbutwithdifferentbadges.Theywouldnotberequiredtoactagainsttheirownnationbutinotherrespectstheywouldbedirectedbytheworldorganization.Thismightbestartedonamodestscaleanditwouldgrowasconfidencegrew.IwishedtoseethisdoneafterthefirstworldwarandIdevoutlytrustthatitmaybedoneforthwith.
ItwouldneverthelessladiesandgentlemenbewrongandimprudenttoentrustthesecretknowledgeorexperienceoftheatomicbombwhichtheUnitedStatesgreatBritainandCanadanowsharetotheworldorganizationwhilestillinitsinfancy.Itwouldbecriminalmadnesstocastitadriftinthisstillagitatedandun-unitedworld.NoonecountryhassleptlesswellintheirbedsbecausethisknowledgeandthemethodandtherawmaterialstoapplyitarepresentlargelyretainedinAmericanhands.IdonotbelieveweshouldallhavesleptsosoundlyhadthepositionsbeenreversedandsomeCommunistorneo-FacistStatemonopolizedforthetimebeingthesedreadagencies.Thefearofthemalonemighteasilyhavebeenusedtoenforcetotalitariansystemsuponthefreedemocraticworldwithconsequencesappallingtohumanimagination.Godhaswilledthatthisshallnotbeandwehaveatleastabreathingspacetosetourworldhouseinorderbeforethisperilhastobeencountered:andeventhenifnoeffortissparedweshouldstillpossesssoformidableasuperiorityastoimposeeffectivedeterrentsuponitsemploymentorthreatofemploymentbyothers.Ultimatelywhentheessentialbrotherhoodofmanistrulyembodiedandexpressedinaworldorganizationwithallthenecessarypracticalsafeguardstomakeiteffectivethesepowerswouldnaturallybeconfidedtothatworldorganizations.
NowIcometothesecondofthetwomarauderstotheseconddangerwhichthreatensthecottagehomesandtheordinarypeople--namelytyranny.WecannotbeblindtothefactthatthelibertiesenjoyedbyindividualcitizensthroughouttheUnitedStatesandthroughouttheBritishEmpirearenotvalidinaconsiderablenumberofcountriessomeofwhichareverypowerful.IntheseStatescontrolisenforceduponthecommonpeoplebyvariouskindsofall-embracingpolicegovernmentstoadegreewhichisoverwhelmingandcontrarytoeveryprincipleofdemocracy.ThepoweroftheStateisexercisedwithoutrestrainteitherbydictatorsorbycompactoligarchiesoperatingthroughaprivilegedpartyandapoliticalpolice.Itisnotourdutyatthistimewhendifficultiesaresonumeroustointerfereforciblyintheinternalaffairsofcountrieswhichwehavenotconqueredinwar.butwemustneverceasetoproclaiminfearlesstonesthegreatprinciplesoffreedomandtherightsofmanwhicharethejointinheritanceoftheEnglish-speakingworldandwhichthroughMagnaCartatheBillofrightstheHabeasCorpustrialbyjuryandtheEnglishcommonlawfindtheirmostfamousexpressionintheAmericanDeclarationofIndependence.
Allthismeansthatthepeopleofanycountryhavetherightandshouldhavethepowerbyconstitutionalactionbyfreeunfetteredelectionswithsecretballottochooseorchangethecharacterorformofgovernmentunderwhichtheydwell;thatfreedomofspeechandthoughtshouldreign;thatcourtsofjusticeindependentoftheexecutiveunbiasedbyanypartyshouldadministerlawswhichhavereceivedthebroadassentoflargemajoritiesorareconsecratedbytimeandcustom.Herearethetitledeedsoffreedomwhichshouldlieineverycottagehome.HereisthemessageoftheBritishandAmericanpeoplestomankind.Letuspreachwhatwepractice--letuspracticewhatwepreach.
thoughIhavenowstatedthetwogreatdangerswhichmenacethehomeofthepeopleWarandTyrannyIhavenotyetspokenofpovertyandprivationwhichareinmanycasestheprevailinganxiety.Butifthedangersofwarandtyrannyareremovedthereisnodoubtthatscienceandcooperationcanbringinthenextfewyearscertainlyinthenextfewdecadestotheworldnewlytaughtinthesharpeningschoolofwaranexpansionofmaterialwell-beingbeyondanythingthathasyetoccurredinhumanexperience.
Nowatthissadandbreathlessmomentweareplungedinthehungeranddistresswhicharetheaftermathofourstupendousstruggle;butthiswillpassandmaypassquicklyandthereisnoreasonexcepthumanfollyorsub-humancrimewhichshoulddenytoallthenationstheinaugurationandenjoymentofanageofplenty.IhaveoftenusedwordswhichIlearnfiftyyearsagofromagreatIrish-AmericanoratorafriendofmineMr.BourkeCockran“Thereisenoughforall.Theearthisagenerousmother;shewillprovideinplentifulabundancefoodforallherchildreniftheywillbutcultivatehersoilinjusticeandpeace.”SofarIfeelthatweareinfullagreement.
Nowwhilestillpursingthemethod--themethodofrealizingourover-allstrategicconceptIcometothecruxofwhatIhavetraveledheretosay.NeitherthesurepreventionofwarnorthecontinuousriseofworldorganizationwillbegainedwithoutwhatIhavecalledthefraternalassociationoftheEnglish-speakingpeoples.ThismeansaspecialrelationshipbetweentheBritishCommonwealthandEmpireandtheUnitedStatesofAmerica.LadiesandgentlementhisisnotimeforgeneralityandIwillventuretotheprecise.Fraternalassociationrequiresnotonlythegrowingfriendshipandmutualunderstandingbetweenourtwovastbutkindredsystemsofsocietybutthecontinuanceoftheintimaterelationsbetweenourmilitaryadvisersleadingtocommonstudyofpotentialdangersthesimilarityofweaponsandmanualsofinstructionsandtotheinterchangeofofficersandcadetsattechnicalcolleges.ItshouldcarrywithitthecontinuanceofthepresentfacilitiesformutualsecuritybythejointuseofallNavalandAirForcebasesinthepossessionofeithercountryallovertheworld.ThiswouldperhapsdoublethemobilityoftheAmericanNavyandAirForce.ItwouldgreatlyexpandthatoftheBritishEmpireforcesanditmightwellleadifandastheworldcalmsdowntoimportantfinancialsavings.Alreadyweusetogetheralargenumberofislands;moremaywellbeentrustedtoourjointcareinthenearfuture.
theUnitedStateshasalreadyaPermanentDefenseAgreementwiththeDominionofCanadawhichissodevotedlyattachedtotheBritishCommonwealthandtheEmpire.ThisAgreementismoreeffectivethanmanyofthosewhichhavebeenmadeunderformalalliances.ThisprincipleshouldbeextendedtoalltheBritishCommonwealthswithfullreciprocity.Thuswhateverhappensandthusonlyshallwebesecureourselvesandabletoworkstogetherforthehighandsimplecausesthataredeartousandbodenoilltoany.Eventuallytheremaycome--Ifeeleventuallytherewillcome--theprincipleofcommoncitizenshipbutthatwemaybecontenttoleavetodestinywhoseoutstretchedarmmanyofuscanalreadyclearlysee.
Thereishoweveranimportantquestionwemustaskourselves.WouldaspecialrelationshipbetweentheUnitedStatesandtheBritishCommonwealthbeinconsistentwithourover-ridingloyaltiestotheWorldOrganization?Ireplythatonthecontraryitisprobablytheonlymeansbywhichthatorganizationwillachieveitsfullstatureandstrength.TherearealreadythespecialUnitedStatesrelationswithCanadathatIhavejustmentionedandtherearetherelationsbetweentheUnitedStatesandtheSouthAmericanRepublics.WeBritishhavealsoourtwentyyearsTreatyofCollaborationandMutualAssistancewithSovietRussia.IagreewithMr.BevintheForeignSecretaryofGreatBritainthatitmightwellbeafiftyyearstreatysofarasweareconcerned.WeaimatnothingbutmutualassistanceandcollaborationwithRussia.TheBritishhaveanalliancewithPortugalunbrokensincetheyear1384andwhichproducedfruitfulresultsatacriticalmomentintherecentwar.Noneoftheseclashwiththegeneralinterestofaworldagreementoraworldorganization;onthecontrarytheyhelpit.“Inmyfather'shousearemanymansions.”SpecialassociationsbetweenmembersoftheUnitedNationswhichhavenoaggressivepointagainstanyothercountrywhichharbornodesignincompatiblewiththeCharteroftheUnitedNationsfarfrombeingharmfularebeneficialandasIbelieveindispensable.
IspokeearlierladiesandgentlemenoftheTempleofPeace.Workmenfromallcountriesmustbuildthattemple.Iftwooftheworkmenknoweachotherparticularlywellandareoldfriendsiftheirfamiliesareinterminglediftheyhave“faithineachother'spurposehopeineachother'sfutureandcharitytowardseachother'sshortcomings”--toquotesomegoodwordsIreadheretheotherday--whycannottheyworktogetheratthecommontaskasfriendsandpartners?Whycantheynotsharetheirtoolsandthusincreaseeachother'sworkingpowers?Indeedtheymustdosoorelsethetemplemaynotbebuiltorbeingbuiltitmaycollapseandweshouldallbeprovedagainunteachableandhavetogoandtrytolearnagainforathirdtimeinaschoolofwarincomparablymorerigorousthanthatfromwhichwehavejustbeenreleased.ThedarkagesmayreturntheStoneAgemayreturnonthegleamingwingsofscienceandwhatmightnowshowerimmeasurablematerialblessingsuponmankindmayevenbringaboutitstotaldestruction.BewareIsay;timemaybeshort.Donotletustakethecourseofallowingeventstodriftalonguntilitistoolate.IfthereistobeafraternalassociationofthekindofIhavedescribedwithallthestrengthandsecuritywhichbothourcountriescanderivefromitletusmakesurethatthatgreatfactisknowntotheworldandthatitplaysitspartinsteadyingandstabilizingthefoundationsofpeace.Thereisthepathofwisdom.Preventionisbetterthanthecure.
AshadowhasfallenuponthescenessolatelylightbytheAlliedvictory.NobodyknowswhatSovietRussiaanditsCommunistinternationalorganizationintendstodointheimmediatefutureorwhatarethelimitsifanytotheirexpansiveandproselytizingtendencies.IhaveastrongadmirationandregardforthevaliantRussianpeopleandformywartimecomradeMarshallStalin.ThereisdeepsympathyandgoodwillinBritain--andIdoubtnotherealso--towardsthepeoplesofalltheRussiasandaresolvetoperseverethroughmanydifferencesandrebuffsinestablishinglastingfriendships.WeunderstandtheRussianneedtobesecureonherwesternfrontiersbytheremovalofallpossibilityofGermanaggression.WewelcomeRussiatoherrightfulplaceamongtheleadingnationsoftheworld.Wewelcomeherflagupontheseas.AboveallwewelcomeorshouldwelcomeconstantfrequentandgrowingcontactsbetweentheRussianpeopleandourownpeopleonbothsidesoftheAtlantic.ItismydutyhoweverforIamsureyouwouldwishmetostatethefactsasIseethemtoyou.ItismydutytoplacebeforeyoucertainfactsaboutthepresentpositioninEurope.
FromStettinintheBaltictoTriesteintheAdriaticanironcurtainhasdescendedacrosstheContinent.BehindthatlinelieallthecapitalsoftheancientstatesofCentralandEasternEurope.WarsawBerlinPragueViennaBudapestBelgradeBucharestandSofiaallthesefamouscitiesandthepopulationsaroundthemlieinwhatImustcalltheSovietsphereandallaresubjectinoneformoranothernotonlytoSovietinfluencebuttoaveryhighandinsomecasesincreasingmeasureofcontrolfromMoscow.Athensalone--Greecewithitsimmortalglories--isfreetodecideitsfutureatanelectionunderBritishAmericanandFrenchobservation.TheRussian-dominatedPolishGovernmenthasbeenencouragedtomakeenormousandwrongfulinroadsuponGermanyandmassexpulsionsofmillionsofGermansonascalegrievousandundreamed-ofarenowtakingplace.TheCommunistpartieswhichwereverysmallinalltheseEasternStatesofEuropehavebeenraisedtopre-eminenceandpowerfarbeyondtheirnumbersandareseekingeverywheretoobtaintotalitariancontrol.PolicegovernmentsareprevailinginnearlyeverycaseandsofarexceptinCzechoslovakiathereisnotruedemocracy.
TurkeyandPersiaarebothprofoundlyalarmedanddisturbedattheclaimswhicharebeingmadeuponthemandatthepressurebeingexertedbytheMoscowGovernment.AnattemptisbeingmadebytheRussiansinBerlintobuildupaquasi-CommunistpartyintheirzoneofoccupiedGermanybyshowingspecialfavorstogroupsofleft-wingGermanleaders.AttheendofthefightinglastJunetheAmericanandBritishArmieswithdrewwestwardinaccordancewithanearlieragreementtoadepthatsomepointsof150milesuponafrontofnearlyfourhundredmilesinordertoallowourRussianalliestooccupythisvastexpanseofterritorywhichtheWesternDemocracieshadconquered.
IfnotheSovietGovernmenttriesbyseparateactiontobuildupapro-CommunistGermanyintheirareasthiswillcausenewseriousdifficultiesintheAmericanandBritishzonesandwillgivethedefeatedGermansthepowerofputtingthemselvesuptoauctionbetweentheSovietsandtheWesternDemocracies.Whateverconclusionsmaybedrawnfromthesefacts--andfactstheyare--thisiscertainlynottheLiberatedEuropewefoughttobuildup.Norisitonewhichcontainstheessentialsofpermanentpeace.
ThesafetyoftheworldladiesandgentlemenrequiresanewunityinEuropefromwhichnonationshouldbepermanentlyoutcast.ItisfromthequarrelsofthestrongparentracesinEuropethattheworldwarswehavewitnessedorwhichoccurredinformertimeshavesprung.TwiceinourownlifetimewehaveseentheUnitedStatesagainsttheirwishedandtheirtraditionsagainstargumentstheforceofwhichitisimpossiblenottocomprehendtwicewehaveseenthemdrawnbyirresistibleforcesintothesewarsintimetosecurethevictoryofthegoodcausebutonlyafterfrightfulslaughteranddevastationhaveoccurred.TwicetheUnitedStatehashadtosendseveralmillionsofitsyoungmenacrosstheAtlantictofindthewar;butnowwarcanfindanynationwhereveritmaydwellbetweenduskanddawn.SurelyweshouldworkwithconsciouspurposeforagrandpacificationofEuropewithinthestructureoftheUnitedNationsandinaccordancewithourCharter.ThatIfeelopensacourseofpolicyofverygreatimportance.
InfrontoftheironcurtainwhichliesacrossEuropeareothercausesforanxiety.InItalytheCommunistPartyisseriouslyhamperedbyhavingtosupporttheCommunist-trainedMarshalTito'sclaimstoformerItalianterritoryattheheadoftheAdriatic.NeverthelessthefutureofItalyhangsinthebalance.AgainonecannotimaginearegeneratedEuropewithoutastrongFrance.AllmypubliclifeIneverlastfaithinherdestinyeveninthedarkesthours.Iwillnotlosefaithnow.HoweverinagreatnumberofcountriesfarfromtheRussianfrontiersandthroughouttheworldCommunistfifthcolumnsareestablishedandworkincompleteunityandabsoluteobediencetothedirectionstheyreceivefromtheCommunistcenter.ExceptintheBritishCommonwealthandintheUnitedStateswhereCommunismisinitsinfancytheCommunistpartiesorfifthcolumnsconstituteagrowingchallengeandperiltoChristiancivilization.Thesearesomberfactsforanyonetohavereciteonthemorrowavictorygainedbysomuchsplendidcomradeshipinarmsandinthecauseoffreedomanddemocracy;butweshouldbemostunwisenottofacethemsquarelywhiletimeremains.
TheoutlookisalsoanxiousintheFarEastandespeciallyinManchuria.TheAgreementwhichwasmadeatYaltatowhichIwasapartywasextremelyfavorabletoSovietRussiabutitwasmadeatatimewhennoonecouldsaythattheGermanwarmightnoextendallthroughthesummerandautumnof1945andwhentheJapanesewarwasexpectedbythebestjudgestolastforafurther18monthsfromtheendoftheGermanwar.Inthiscountryyouallsowell-informedabouttheFarEastandsuchdevotedfriendsofChinathatIdonotneedtoexpatiateonthesituationthere.
Ihavehoweverfeltboundtoportraytheshadowwhichalikeinthewestandintheeastfallsupontheworld.IwasaministeratthetimeoftheVersaillestreatyandaclosefriendofMr.Lloyd-GeorgewhowastheheadoftheBritishdelegationatVersailles.IdidnotmyselfagreewithmanythingsthatweredonebutIhaveaverystrongimpressioninmymindofthatsituationandIfinditpainfultocontrastitwiththatwhichprevailsnow.InthosedaystherewerehighhopesandunboundedconfidencethatthewarswereoverandthattheLeagueofNationswouldbecomeall-powerful.Idonotseeorfeelthatsameconfidenceoreventhesamehopesinthehaggardworldatthepresenttime.
OntheotherhandladiesandgentlemenIrepulsetheideathatanewwarisinevitable;stillmorethatitisimminent.ItisbecauseIamsurethatourfortunesarestillinourownhandsandthatweholdthepowertosavethefuturethatIfeelthedutytospeakoutnowthatIhavetheoccasionandtheopportunitytodoso.IdonotbelievethatSovietRussiadesireswar.Whattheydesireisthefruitsofwarandtheindefiniteexpansionoftheirpoweranddoctrines.Butwhatwehavetoconsiderheretodaywhiletimeremainsisthepermanentpreventionofwarandtheestablishmentofconditionsoffreedomanddemocracyasrapidlyaspossibleinallcountries.Ourdifficultiesanddangerswillnotberemovedbyclosingoureyestothem.Theywillnotberemovedbymerewaitingtoseewhathappens;norwilltheyberemovedbyapolicyofappeasement.Whatisneededisasettlementandthelongerthisisdelayedthemoredifficultitwillbeandthegreaterourdangerswillbecome.
FromwhatIhaveseenofourRussianfriendsandAlliesduringthewarIamconvincedthatthereisnothingforwhichtheyhavelessrespectthanforweaknessespeciallymilitaryweakness.Forthatreasontheolddoctrineofabalanceofpowerisunsound.Wecannotaffordifwecanhelpittoworkonnarrowmarginsofferingtemptationstoatrialofstrength.IftheWesternDemocraciesstandtogetherinstrictadherencetotheprincipleswillbeimmenseandnooneislikelytomolestthem.Ifhowevertheybecomedividedoffalterintheirdutyandiftheseall-importantyearsareallowedtoslipawaythenindeedcatastrophemayoverwhelmusall.
LasttimeIsawitallcomingandIcriedaloudtomyownfellow-countrymenandtotheworldbutnoonepaidanyattention.Uptilltheyear1933oreven1935GermanymighthavebeensavedfromtheawfulfatewhichhasovertakenhereandwemightallhavebeensparedthemiseriesHitlerletlooseuponmankind.thereneverwasawarinhistoryeasiertopreventbytimelyactionthantheonewhichhasjustdesolatedsuchgreatareasoftheglobe.ItcouldhavebeenpreventedinmybeliefwithoutthefiringofasingleshotandGermanymightbepowerfulprosperousandhonoredtoday;butnoonewouldlistenandonebyonewewereallsuckedintotheawfulwhirlpool.WesurelyladiesandgentlemenIputittoyousurelywemustnotletithappenagain.Thiscanonlybeachievedbyreachingnowin1946byreachingagoodunderstandingonallpointswithRussiaunderthegeneralauthorityoftheUnitedNationsOrganizationandbythemaintenanceofthatgoodunderstandingthroughmanypeacefulyearsbythewholestrengthoftheEnglish-speakingworldandallitsconnections.ThereisthesolutionwhichIrespectfullyoffertoyouinthisAddresstowhichIhavegiventhetitle“TheSinewsofPeace”.
LetnomanunderratetheabidingpoweroftheBritishEmpireandCommonwealth.Becauseyouseethe46millionsinourislandharassedabouttheirfoodsupplyofwhichtheyonlygrowonehalfeveninwar-timeorbecausewehavedifficultyinrestartingourindustriesandexporttradeaftersixyearsofpassionatewareffortdonotsupposeweshallnotcomethroughthesedarkyearsofprivationaswehavecomethroughthegloriousyearsofagony.Donotsupposethathalfacenturyfromnowyouwillnotsee70or80millionsofBritonsspreadabouttheworldunitedindefenseofourtraditionsandourwayoflifeandoftheworldcauseswhichyouandweespouse.IfthepopulationoftheEnglish-speakingCommonwealthsbeaddedtothatoftheUnitedStateswithallthatsuchco-operationimpliesintheairontheseaallovertheglobeandinscienceandinindustryandinmoralforcetherewillbenoquiveringprecariousbalanceofpowertoofferitstemptationtoambitionoradventure.Onthecontrarytherewillbeanoverwhelmingassuranceofsecurity.IfweadherefaithfullytotheCharteroftheUnitedNationsandwalkforwardinsedateandsoberstrengthseekingnoone'slandortreasureseekingtolaynoarbitrarycontroluponthethoughtsofmen;ifallBritishmoralandmaterialforcesandconvictionsarejoinedwithyourowninfraternalassociationthehighroadsofthefuturewillbeclearnotonlyforourtimebutforacenturytocome.