On
Friday evening last I received from His Majesty the mission to form a new
administration. It was the evident will of' Parliament and the nation that this
should be conceived on the broadest possible basis and that it should include
all parties.
I
have already completed the most important part of this task.
A
war cabinet has been formed of five members, representing, with the Labour,
Opposition, and Liberals, the unity of the nation. It was necessary that this
should be done in one single day on account of the extreme urgency and rigor of
events. Other key positions were filled yesterday. I am submitting a further
list to the king tonight. I hope to complete the appointment of principal
ministers during tomorrow.
The
appointment of other ministers usually takes a little longer. I trust when
Parliament meets again this part of my task will be completed and that the
administration will be complete in all respects. I considered it in the public
interest to suggest to the Speaker that the House should be summoned today. At
the end of today's proceedings, the adjournment of the House will be proposed
until May 21 with provision for earlier meeting if need be. Business for that
will be notified to MPs at the earliest opportunity.
I
now invite the House by a resolution to record its approval of the steps taken
and declare its confidence in the new government.
The
resolution:
"That
this House welcomes the formation of a government representing the united and
inflexible resolve of the nation to prosecute the war with Germany to a
victorious conclusion."
To form an administration of this scale and
complexity is a serious undertaking in itself. But we are in the preliminary
phase of one of the greatest battles in history. We are in action at many other
points-in Norway and in Holland-and we have to be prepared in the
Mediterranean. The air battle is continuing, and many preparations have to be
made here at home.
In
this crisis I think I may be pardoned if 1 do not address the House at any
length today, and I hope that any of my friends and colleagues or former
colleagues who are affected by the political reconstruction will make all
allowances for any lack of ceremony with which it has been necessary to act.
I
say to the House as I said to ministers who have joined this government, I have
nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat. We have before us an ordeal
of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many months of struggle and
suffering.
You
ask, what is our policy? I say it is to wage war by land, sea, and air. War
with all our might and with all the strength God has given us, and to wage war
against a monstrous tyranny never surpassed in the dark and lamentable
catalogue of human crime. That is our policy.
You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one
word. It is victory. Victory at all costs - Victory in spite of all terrors -
Victory, however long and hard the road may be, for without victory there is no
survival.
Let
that be realized. No survival for the British Empire, no survival for all that the
British Empire has stood for, no survival for the urge, the impulse of the
ages, that mankind shall move forward toward his goal.
I
take up my task in buoyancy and hope. I feel sure that our cause will not be
suffered to fail among men. I feel entitled at this juncture, at this time, to
claim the aid of all and to say,