1943 POLITICS / DEFENCE: World War II: Winston Churchill speech on receiving freedom of City

Date: 5th July 1943

Location: WHITEHALL, LONDON, ENGLAND MANSION HOUSE, ENGLAND AIR MINISTRY, LONDON, ENGLAND GUILD HALL, AIR MINISTRY, MANSION HOUSE, LONDON, ENGLAND

Source: Reuters Historical News Collection: BRITISH PARAMOUNT NEWSREEL (REUTERS)

LONDON HONOURS PREMIER: After Receiving Freedom of London, Churchill Makes Vital Speech.

ENGLAND: London: Guild Hall:

INT

GV int. Guild Hall, Winston Churchill being received by Lord Mayor of London.

SV Lord Mayor of London shaking hands with Churchill.

GV Churchill on platform being presented with Freedom of City.

SV Churchill shaking hands with Lord Chamberlin.

GV applause as Churchill walks to mike.

SV Churchill speaking.

SV Churchill speaking, Big GV int.

Churchill speaking. (silent for dubbing.)

SV Churchill speaking.

Big GV Churchill speaking. (Silent for voice.)

SV Churchill speaking.

LV Churchill speaking. (silent for voice.)

SCU Churchill speaking.

SV Churchill finishes speech, turns round and walks back to seat.

Big GV applause as Churchill sits down.

SOUND EFFECTS: CHURCHILL SPEAKS:

SV.."Of all the wars that we have ever waged in the long continuity of our history, there has never been one which more truly united the entire British nation and British race throughout the world than this present fearful struggle for the freedom and progress of mankind."

SV.."Upon the fraternal association and intimate alignment of policy of the United States and the British Commonwealth and Empire depends more than on any other factor the immediate future of the world. If they walk, or if need be march, together in harmony and in accordance with the moral and political conceptions to which the English-speaking peoples have given birth, and which are frequently referred to in the Atlantic Charter, all will be well. If they fall apart and wander astray from the commanding beacon-light of their destiny, there is no end or measure to the miseries and confusion which await modern civilization."

SV.."Should Hitler's Germany and Mussolini's Italy collapse under the flail of Soviet Russia, and the not inconsiderable exertions of the British and American armies in the Mediterranean and elsewhere, should the war industries of Germany be blasted out of existence by the British and American air-power, should this prime and capital victory be achieved before Japan has been laid low. I stand here to tell you to-day, as I told the Congress, of the United States in your name, that every man, every ship, and every aeroplane in the King's service that can be moved to the Pacific will be sent and will be

there maintained in action by the peoples of the British Commonwealth and Empire in priority over all other interests for as many flaming years as are needed to make the Japanese in their turn submit or bite the dust."

SV.."Long lines of U-boats were spread to intercept these convoys and packs of 15 or 20 U-boats were then concentrated upon the attempt. To meet this the British and American and Canadian forces of the sea and air hurled their strength upon the U-boats. The fighting took place mainly around the convoys but also over wide expanses of the ocean. It ended in the total defeat of the U-boat attack." Applause.

"More than 30 U-boats were certainly destroyed in the month of May, foundering in many cases with their crews in the dark depths of the sea. Staggered by these deadly losses, the U-boats have recoiled to lick their wounds and mourn their dead. Our Atlantic convoys came safely through, and now, as the result of the May victory and the massacre of U-boats we have had in June the best month from every point of view we have ever known in the whole 46 months of the war."

SCU.."When we see them writing under this merciless alien yoke, and when we see their patriots striking back with every week a fiercer and more furious desperation, we may feel sure that we bear the sword of justice, and we are r

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