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