精彩英语励志演讲稿《WinstonChurchill'sIronCurtainSpeech》WinstonChurchillpresentedhisSinewsofPeace,（theIronCurtainSpeech），atWestminsterCollegeinFulton,MissourionMarch5,1946.PresidentMcCluer,ladiesandgentlemen,andlast,butcertainlynotleast,thePresidentoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica:IamverygladindeedtocometoWestminsterCollegethisafternoon,andIamcomplimentedthatyoushouldgivemeadegreefromaninstitutionwhosereputationhasbeensosolidlyestablished.Thename“Westminster”somehoworotherseemsfamiliartome.IfeelasifIhaveheardofitbefore.IndeednowthatIcometothinkofit,itwasatWestminsterthatIreceivedaverylargepartofmyeducationinpolitics,dialectic,rhetoric,andoneortwootherthings.Infactwehavebothbeeneducatedatthesame,orsimilar,or,atanyrate,kindredestablishments.Itisalsoanhonor,ladiesandgentlemen,perhapsalmostunique,foraprivatevisitortobeintroducedtoanacademicaudiencebythePresidentoftheUnitedStates.Amidhisheavyburdens,duties,andresponsibilities--unsoughtbutnotrecoiledfrom--thePresidenthastraveledathousandmilestodignifyandmagnifyourmeetinghereto-dayandtogivemeanopportunityofaddressingthiskindrednation,aswellasmyowncountrymenacrosstheocean,andperhapssomeothercountriestoo.ThePresidenthastoldyouthatitishiswish,asIamsureitisyours,thatIshouldhavefulllibertytogivemytrueandfaithfulcounselintheseanxiousandbafflingtimes.Ishallcertainlyavailmyselfofthisfreedom,andfeelthemorerighttodosobecauseanyprivateambitionsImayhavecherishedinmyyoungerdayshavebeensatisfiedbeyondmywildestdreams.LetmehowevermakeitclearthatIhavenoofficialmissionorstatusofanykind,andthatIspeakonlyformyself.Thereisnothingherebutwhatyousee.Icanthereforeallowmymind,withtheexperienceofalifetime,toplayovertheproblemswhichbesetusonthemorrowofourabsolutevictoryinarms,andtotrytomakesurewithwhatstrengthIhavethatwhathasgainedwithsomuchsacrificeandsufferingshallbepreservedforthefuturegloryandsafetyofmankind.Ladiesandgentlemen,theUnitedStatesstandsatthistimeatthepinnacleofworldpower.ItisasolemnmomentfortheAmericanDemocracy.Forwithprimacyinpowerisalsojoinedanawe-inspiringaccountabilitytothefuture.Ifyoulookaroundyou,youmustfeelnotonlythesenseofdutydonebutalsoyoumustfeelanxietylestyoufallbelowthelevelofachievement.Opportunityishereandnow,clearandshiningforbothourcountries.Torejectitorignoreitorfritteritawaywillbringuponusallthelongreproachesoftheafter-time.Itisnecessarythattheconstancyofmind,persistencyofpurpose,andthegrandsimplicityofdecisionshallruleandguidetheconductoftheEnglish-speakingpeoplesinpeaceastheydidinwar.Wemust,andIbelieveweshall,proveourselvesequaltothissevererequirement.PresidentMcCluer,whenAmericanmilitarymenapproachsomeserioussituationtheyarewonttowriteattheoftheirdirectivethewords“over-allstrategicconcept”.Thereiswisdominthis,asitleadstoclarityofthought.Whatthenistheover-allstrategicconceptwhichweshouldinscribeto-day?Itisnothinglessthanthesafetyandwelfare,thefreedomandprogress,ofallthehomesandfamiliesofallthemenandwomeninallthelands.AndhereIspeakparticularlyofthemyriadcottageorapartmenthomeswherethewage-earnerstrivesamidtheaccidentsanddifficultiesoflifetoguardhiswifeandchildrenfromprivationandbringthefamilyupthefearoftheLord,oruponethicalconceptionswhichoftenplaytheirpotentpart.Togivesecuritytothesecountlesshomes,theymustbeshieldedformtwogauntmarauders,warandtyranny.Wealknowthefrightfuldisturbanceinwhichtheordinaryfamilyisplungedwhenthecurseofwarswoopsdownuponthebread-winnerandthoseforwhomheworksandcontrives.TheawfulruinofEurope,withallitsvanishedglories,andoflargepartsofAsiaglaresusintheeyes.WhenthedesignsofwickedmenortheaggressiveurgeofmightyStatesdissolveoverlargeareastheframeofcivilizedsociety,humblefolkareconfrontedwithdifficultieswithwhichtheycannotcope.Forthemisalldistorted,allisbroken,allisevengroundtopulp.WhenIstandherethisquietafternoonIshuddertovisualizewhatisactuallyhappeningtomillionsnowandwhatisgoingtohappeninthisperiodwhenfaminestalkstheearth.Nonecancomputewhathasbeencalled“theunestimatedsumofhumanpain”.Oursupremetaskanddutyistoguardthehomesofthecommonpeoplefromthehorrorsandmiseriesofanotherwar.Weareallagreedonthat.OurAmericanmilitarycolleagues,afterhavingproclaimedtheir“over-allstrategicconcept”andcomputedavailableresources,alwaysproceedtothenextstep--namely,themethod.Hereagainthereiswidespreadagreement.Aworldorganizationhasalreadybeenerectedfortheprimepurposeofpreventingwar.UNO,thesuccessoroftheLeagueofNations,withthedecisiveadditionoftheUnitedStatesandallthatthatmeans,isalreadyatwork.Wemustmakesurethatitsworkisfruitful,thatitisarealityandnotasham,thatitisaforceforaction,andnotmerelyafrothingofwords,thatitisatruetempleofpeaceinwhichtheshieldsofmanynationscansomedaybehungup,andnotmerelyacockpitinaTowerofBabel.Beforewecastawaythesolidassurancesofnationalarmamentsforself-preservationwemustbecertainthatourtempleisbuilt,notuponshiftingsandsorquagmires,butuponarock.Anyonecanseewithhiseyesopenthatourpathwillbedifficultandalsolong,butifweperseveretogetheraswedidinthetwoworldwars--thoughnot,alas,intheintervalbetweenthem--Icannotdoubtthatweshallachieveourcommonpurposeintheend.Ihave,however,adefiniteandpracticalproposaltomakeforaction.Courtsandmagistratesmaybesetupbuttheycannotfunctionwithoutsheriffsandconstables.TheUnitedNationsOrganizationmustimmediatelybegintobeequippedwithaninternationalarmedforce.Insuchamatterwecanonlygostepbystep,butwemustbeginnow.IproposethateachofthePowersandStatesshouldbeinvitedtodedicateacertainnumberofairsquadronstotheserviceoftheworldorganization.Thesesquadronswouldbetrainedandpreparedintheirowncountries,butwouldmovearoundinrotationfromonecountrytoanother.Theywouldweartheuniformsoftheirowncountriesbutwithdifferentbadges.Theywouldnotberequiredtoactagainsttheirownnation,butinotherrespectstheywouldbedirectedbytheworldorganization.Thismightbestartedonamodestscaleanditwouldgrowasconfidencegrew.Iwishedtoseethisdoneafterthefirstworldwar,andIdevoutlytrustthatitmaybedoneforthwith.Itwouldnevertheless,ladiesandgentlemen,bewrongandimprudenttoentrustthesecretknowledgeorexperienceoftheatomicbomb,whichtheUnitedStates,greatBritain,andCanadanowshare,totheworldorganization,whilestillinitsinfancy.Itwouldbecriminalmadnesstocastitadriftinthisstillagitatedandun-unitedworld.Noonecountryhassleptlesswellintheirbedsbecausethisknowledgeandthemethodandtherawmaterialstoapplyit,arepresentlargelyretainedinAmericanhands.IdonotbelieveweshouldallhavesleptsosoundlyhadthepositionsbeenreversedandsomeCommunistorneo-FacistStatemonopolizedforthetimebeingthesedreadagencies.Thefearofthemalonemighteasilyhavebeenusedtoenforcetotalitariansystemsuponthefreedemocraticworld,withconsequencesappallingtohumanimagination.Godhaswilledthatthisshallnotbeandwehaveatleastabreathingspacetosetourworldhouseinorderbeforethisperilhastobeencountered:andeventhen,ifnoeffortisspared,weshouldstillpossesssoformidableasuperiorityastoimposeeffectivedeterrentsuponitsemployment,orthreatofemployment,byothers.Ultimately,whentheessentialbrotherhoodofmanistrulyembodiedandexpressedinaworldorganizationwithallthenecessarypracticalsafeguardstomakeiteffective,thesepowerswouldnaturallybeconfidedtothatworldorganizations.NowIcometothesecondofthetwomarauders,totheseconddangerwhichthreatensthecottagehomes,andtheordinarypeople--namely,tyranny.WecannotbeblindtothefactthatthelibertiesenjoyedbyindividualcitizensthroughouttheUnitedStatesandthroughouttheBritishEmpirearenotvalidinaconsiderablenumberofcountries,someofwhichareverypowerful.IntheseStatescontrolisenforceduponthecommonpeoplebyvariouskindsofall-embracingpolicegovernmentstoadegreewhichisoverwhelmingandcontrarytoeveryprincipleofdemocracy.ThepoweroftheStateisexercisedwithoutrestraint,eitherbydictatorsorbycompactoligarchiesoperatingthroughaprivilegedpartyandapoliticalpolice.Itisnotourdutyatthistimewhendifficultiesaresonumeroustointerfereforciblyintheinternalaffairsofcountrieswhichwehavenotconqueredinwar.butwemustneverceasetoproclaiminfearlesstonesthegreatprinciplesoffreedomandtherightsofmanwhicharethejointinheritanceoftheEnglish-speakingworldandwhichthroughMagnaCarta,theBillofrights,theHabeasCorpus,trialbyjury,andtheEnglishcommonlawfindtheirmostfamousexpressionintheAmericanDeclarationofIndependence.Allthismeansthatthepeopleofanycountryhavetheright,andshouldhavethepowerbyconstitutionalaction,byfreeunfetteredelections,withsecretballot,tochooseorchangethecharacterorformofgovernmentunderwhichtheydwell;thatfreedomofspeechandthoughtshouldreign;thatcourtsofjustice,independentoftheexecutive,unbiasedbyanyparty,shouldadministerlawswhichhavereceivedthebroadassentoflargemajoritiesorareconsecratedbytimeandcustom.Herearethetitledeedsoffreedomwhichshouldlieineverycottagehome.HereisthemessageoftheBritishandAmericanpeoplestomankind.Letuspreachwhatwepractice--letuspracticewhatwepreach.thoughIhavenowstatedthetwogreatdangerswhichmenacethehomeofthepeople,WarandTyranny,Ihavenotyetspokenofpovertyandprivationwhichareinmanycasestheprevailinganxiety.Butifthedangersofwarandtyrannyareremoved,thereisnodoubtthatscienceandcooperationcanbringinthenextfewyears,certainlyinthenextfewdecades,totheworld,newlytaughtinthesharpeningschoolofwar,anexpansionofmaterialwell-beingbeyondanythingthathasyetoccurredinhumanexperience.Now,atthissadandbreathlessmoment,weareplungedinthehungeranddistresswhicharetheaftermathofourstupendousstruggle;butthiswillpassandmaypassquickly,andthereisnoreasonexcepthumanfollyorsub-humancrimewhichshoulddenytoallthenationstheinaugurationandenjoymentofanageofplenty.IhaveoftenusedwordswhichIlearnfiftyyearsagofromagreatIrish-Americanorator,afriendofmine,Mr.BourkeCockran,“Thereisenoughforall.Theearthisagenerousmother;shewillprovideinplentifulabundancefoodforallherchildreniftheywillbutcultivatehersoilinjusticeandpeace.”SofarIfeelthatweareinfullagreement.Now,whilestillpursingthemethod--themethodofrealizingourover-allstrategicconcept,IcometothecruxofwhatIhavetraveledheretosay.Neitherthesurepreventionofwar,northecontinuousriseofworldorganizationwillbegainedwithoutwhatIhavecalledthefraternalassociationoftheEnglish-speakingpeoples.ThismeansaspecialrelationshipbetweentheBritishCommonwealthandEmpireandtheUnitedStatesofAmerica.Ladiesandgentlemen,thisisnotimeforgenerality,andIwillventuretotheprecise.Fraternalassociationrequiresnotonlythegrowingfriendshipandmutualunderstandingbetweenourtwovastbutkindredsystemsofsociety,butthecontinuanceoftheintimaterelationsbetweenourmilitaryadvisers,leadingtocommonstudyofpotentialdangers,thesimilarityofweaponsandmanualsofinstructions,andtotheinterchangeofofficersandcadetsattechnicalcolleges.ItshouldcarrywithitthecontinuanceofthepresentfacilitiesformutualsecuritybythejointuseofallNavalandAirForcebasesinthepossessionofeithercountryallovertheworld.ThiswouldperhapsdoublethemobilityoftheAmericanNavyandAirForce.ItwouldgreatlyexpandthatoftheBritishEmpireforcesanditmightwelllead,ifandastheworldcalmsdown,toimportantfinancialsavings.Alreadyweusetogetheralargenumberofislands;moremaywellbeentrustedtoourjointcareinthenearfuture.theUnitedStateshasalreadyaPermanentDefenseAgreementwiththeDominionofCanada,whichissodevotedlyattachedtotheBritishCommonwealthandtheEmpire.ThisAgreementismoreeffectivethanmanyofthosewhichhavebeenmadeunderformalalliances.ThisprincipleshouldbeextendedtoalltheBritishCommonwealthswithfullreciprocity.Thus,whateverhappens,andthusonly,shallwebesecureourselvesandabletoworkstogetherforthehighandsimplecausesthataredeartousandbodenoilltoany.Eventuallytheremaycome--Ifeeleventuallytherewillcome--theprincipleofcommoncitizenship,butthatwemaybecontenttoleavetodestiny,whoseoutstretchedarmmanyofuscanalreadyclearlysee.Thereishoweveranimportantquestionwemustaskourselves.WouldaspecialrelationshipbetweentheUnitedStatesandtheBritishCommonwealthbeinconsistentwithourover-ridingloyaltiestotheWorldOrganization?Ireplythat,onthecontrary,itisprobablytheonlymeansbywhichthatorganizationwillachieveitsfullstatureandstrength.TherearealreadythespecialUnitedStatesrelationswithCanadathatIhavejustmentioned,andtherearetherelationsbetweentheUnitedStatesandtheSouthAmericanRepublics.WeBritishhavealsoourtwentyyearsTreatyofCollaborationandMutualAssistancewithSovietRussia.IagreewithMr.Bevin,theForeignSecretaryofGreatBritain,thatitmightwellbeafiftyyearstreatysofarasweareconcerned.WeaimatnothingbutmutualassistanceandcollaborationwithRussia.TheBritishhaveanalliancewithPortugalunbrokensincetheyear1384,andwhichproducedfruitfulresultsatacriticalmomentintherecentwar.Noneoftheseclashwiththegeneralinterestofaworldagreement,oraworldorganization;onthecontrary,theyhelpit.“Inmyfather'shousearemanymansions.”SpecialassociationsbetweenmembersoftheUnitedNationswhichhavenoaggressivepointagainstanyothercountry,whichharbornodesignincompatiblewiththeCharteroftheUnitedNations,farfrombeingharmful,arebeneficialand,asIbelieve,indispensable.Ispokeearlier,ladiesandgentlemen,oftheTempleofPeace.Workmenfromallcountriesmustbuildthattemple.Iftwooftheworkmenknoweachotherparticularlywellandareoldfriends,iftheirfamiliesareintermingled,iftheyhave“faithineachother'spurpose,hopeineachother'sfutureandcharitytowardseachother'sshortcomings”--toquotesomegoodwordsIreadheretheotherday--whycannottheyworktogetheratthecommontaskasfriendsandpartners?Whycantheynotsharetheirtoolsandthusincreaseeachother'sworkingpowers?Indeedtheymustdosoorelsethetemplemaynotbebuilt,or,beingbuilt,itmaycollapse,andweshouldallbeprovedagainunteachableandhavetogoandtrytolearnagainforathirdtimeinaschoolofwarincomparablymorerigorousthanthatfromwhichwehavejustbeenreleased.Thedarkagesmayreturn,theStoneAgemayreturnonthegleamingwingsofscience,andwhatmightnowshowerimmeasurablematerialblessingsuponmankind,mayevenbringaboutitstotaldestruction.Beware,Isay;timemaybeshort.Donotletustakethecourseofallowingeventstodriftalonguntilitistoolate.IfthereistobeafraternalassociationofthekindofIhavedescribed,withallthestrengthandsecuritywhichbothourcountriescanderivefromit,letusmakesurethatthatgreatfactisknowntotheworld,andthatitplaysitspartinsteadyingandstabilizingthefoundationsofpeace.Thereisthepathofwisdom.Preventionisbetterthanthecure.AshadowhasfallenuponthescenessolatelylightbytheAlliedvictory.NoknowswhatSovietRussiaanditsCommunistinternationalorganizationintendstodointheimmediatefuture,orwhatarethelimits,ifany,totheirexpansiveandproselytizingtendencies.IhaveastrongadmirationandregardforthevaliantRussianpeopleandformywartimecomrade,MarshallStalin.ThereisdeepsympathyandgoodwillinBritain--andIdoubtnotherealso--towardsthepeoplesofalltheRussiasandaresolvetoperseverethroughmanydifferencesandrebuffsinestablishinglastingfriendships.WeunderstandtheRussianneedtobesecureonherwesternfrontiersbytheremovalofallpossibilityofGermanaggression.WewelcomeRussiatoherrightfulplaceamongtheleadingnationsoftheworld.Wewelcomeherflagupontheseas.Aboveall,wewelcome,orshouldwelcome,constant,frequentandgrowingcontactsbetweentheRussianpeopleandourownpeopleonbothsidesoftheAtlantic.Itismydutyhowever,forIamsureyouwouldwishmetostatethefactsasIseethemtoyou.ItismydutytoplacebeforeyoucertainfactsaboutthepresentpositioninEurope.FromStettinintheBaltictoTriesteintheAdriaticanironcurtainhasdescendedacrosstheContinent.BehindthatlinelieallthecapitalsoftheancientstatesofCentralandEasternEurope.Warsaw,Berlin,Prague,Vienna,Budapest,Belgrade,BucharestandSofia,allthesefamouscitiesandthepopulationsaroundthemlieinwhatImustcalltheSovietsphere,andallaresubjectinoneformoranother,notonlytoSovietinfluencebuttoaveryhighand,insomecases,increasingmeasureofcontrolfromMoscow.Athensalone--Greecewithitsimmortalglories--isfreetodecideitsfutureatanelectionunderBritish,AmericanandFrenchobservation.TheRussian-dominatedPolishGovernmenthasbeenencouragedtomakeenormousandwrongfulinroadsuponGermany,andmassexpulsionsofmillionsofGermansonascalegrievousandundreamed-ofarenowtakingplace.TheCommunistparties,whichwereverysmallinalltheseEasternStatesofEurope,havebeenraisedtopre-eminenceandpowerfarbeyondtheirnumbersandareseekingeverywheretoobtaintotalitariancontrol.Policegovernmentsareprevailinginnearlyeverycase,andsofar,exceptinCzechoslovakia,thereisnotruedemocracy.TurkeyandPersiaarebothprofoundlyalarmedanddisturbedattheclaimswhicharebeingmadeuponthemandatthepressurebeingexertedbytheMoscowGovernment.AnattemptisbeingmadebytheRussiansinBerlintobuildupaquasi-CommunistpartyintheirzoneofoccupiedGermanybyshowingspecialfavorstogroupsofleft-wingGermanleaders.AttheendofthefightinglastJune,theAmericanandBritishArmieswithdrewwestward,inaccordancewithanearlieragreement,toadepthatsomepointsof150milesuponafrontofnearlyfourhundredmiles,inordertoallowourRussianalliestooccupythisvastexpanseofterritorywhichtheWesternDemocracieshadconquered.IfnotheSovietGovernmenttries,byseparateaction,tobuildupapro-CommunistGermanyintheirareas,thiswillcausenewseriousdifficultiesintheAmericanandBritishzones,andwillgivethedefeatedGermansthepowerofputtingthemselvesuptoauctionbetweentheSovietsandtheWesternDemocracies.Whateverconclusionsmaybedrawnfromthesefacts--andfactstheyare--thisiscertainlynottheLiberatedEuropewefoughttobuildup.Norisitonewhichcontainstheessentialsofpermanentpeace.Thesafetyoftheworld,ladiesandgentlemen,requiresanewunityinEurope,fromwhichnonationshouldbepermanentlyoutcast.ItisfromthequarrelsofthestrongparentracesinEuropethattheworldwarswehavewitnessed,orwhichoccurredinformertimes,havesprung.TwiceinourownlifetimewehaveseentheUnitedStates,againsttheirwishedandtheirtraditions,againstarguments,theforceofwhichitisimpossiblenottocomprehend,twicewehaveseenthemdrawnbyirresistibleforces,intothesewarsintimetosecurethevictoryofthegoodcause,butonlyafterfrightfulslaughteranddevastationhaveoccurred.TwicetheUnitedStatehashadtosendseveralmillionsofitsyoungmenacrosstheAtlantictofindthewar;butnowwarcanfindanynation,whereveritmaydwellbetweenduskanddawn.SurelyweshouldworkwithconsciouspurposeforagrandpacificationofEurope,withinthestructureoftheUnitedNationsandinaccordancewithourCharter.ThatIfeelopensacourseofpolicyofverygreatimportance.InfrontoftheironcurtainwhichliesacrossEuropeareothercausesforanxiety.InItalytheCommunistPartyisseriouslyhamperedbyhavingtosupporttheCommunist-trainedMarshalTito'sclaimstoformerItalianterritoryattheoftheAdriatic.NeverthelessthefutureofItalyhangsinthebalance.AgainonecannotimaginearegeneratedEuropewithoutastrongFrance.AllmypubliclifeIneverlastfaithinherdestiny,eveninthedarkesthours.Iwillnotlosefaithnow.However,inagreatnumberofcountries,farfromtheRussianfrontiersandthroughouttheworld,CommunistfifthcolumnsareestablishedandworkincompleteunityandabsoluteobediencetothedirectionstheyreceivefromtheCommunistcenter.ExceptintheBritishCommonwealthandintheUnitedStateswhereCommunismisinitsinfancy,theCommunistpartiesorfifthcolumnsconstituteagrowingchallengeandperiltoChristiancivilization.Thesearesomberfactsforanyonetohavereciteonthemorrowavictorygainedbysomuchsplendidcomradeshipinarmsandinthecauseoffreedomanddemocracy;butweshouldbemostunwisenottofacethemsquarelywhiletimeremains.TheoutlookisalsoanxiousintheFarEastandespeciallyinManchuria.TheAgreementwhichwasmadeatYalta,towhichIwasaparty,wasextremelyfavorabletoSovietRussia,butitwasmadeatatimewhennoonecouldsaythattheGermanwarmightnoextendallthroughthesummerandautumnof1945andwhentheJapanesewarwasexpectedbythebestjudgestolastforafurther18monthsfromtheendoftheGermanwar.Inthiscountryyouallsowell-informedabouttheFarEast,andsuchdevotedfriendsofChina,thatIdonotneedtoexpatiateonthesituationthere.Ihave,however,feltboundtoportraytheshadowwhich,alikeinthewestandintheeast,fallsupontheworld.IwasaministeratthetimeoftheVersaillestreatyandaclosefriendofMr.Lloyd-George,whowastheoftheBritishdelegationatVersailles.Ididnotmyselfagreewithmanythingsthatweredone,butIhaveaverystrongimpressioninmymindofthatsituation,andIfinditpainfultocontrastitwiththatwhichprevailsnow.InthosedaystherewerehighhopesandunboundedconfidencethatthewarswereoverandthattheLeagueofNationswouldbecomeall-powerful.Idonotseeorfeelthatsameconfidenceoreventhesamehopesinthehaggardworldatthepresenttime.Ontheotherhand,ladiesandgentlemen,Irepulsetheideathatanewwarisinevitable;stillmorethatitisimminent.ItisbecauseIamsurethatourfortunesarestillinourownhandsandthatweholdthepowertosavethefuture,thatIfeelthedutytospeakoutnowthatIhavetheoccasionandtheopportunitytodoso.IdonotbelievethatSovietRussiadesireswar.Whattheydesireisthefruitsofwarandtheindefiniteexpansionoftheirpoweranddoctrines.Butwhatwehavetoconsiderheretodaywhiletimeremains,isthepermanentpreventionofwarandtheestablishmentofconditionsoffreedomanddemocracyasrapidlyaspossibleinallcountries.Ourdifficultiesanddangerswillnotberemovedbyclosingoureyestothem.Theywillnotberemovedbymerewaitingtoseewhathappens;norwilltheyberemovedbyapolicyofappeasement.Whatisneededisasettlement,andthelongerthisisdelayed,themoredifficultitwillbeandthegreaterourdangerswillbecome.FromwhatIhaveseenofourRussianfriendsandAlliesduringthewar,Iamconvincedthatthereisnothingforwhichtheyhavelessrespectthanforweakness,especiallymilitaryweakness.Forthatreasontheolddoctrineofabalanceofpowerisunsound.Wecannotafford,ifwecanhelpit,toworkonnarrowmargins,offeringtemptationstoatrialofstrength.IftheWesternDemocraciesstandtogetherinstrictadherencetotheprincipleswillbeimmenseandnooneislikelytomolestthem.Ifhowevertheybecomedividedoffalterintheirdutyandiftheseall-importantyearsareallowedtoslipawaythenindeedcatastrophemayoverwhelmusall.LasttimeIsawitallcomingandIcriedaloudtomyownfellow-countrymenandtotheworld,butnoonepaidanyattention.Uptilltheyear1933oreven1935,GermanymighthavebeensavedfromtheawfulfatewhichhasovertakenhereandwemightallhavebeensparedthemiseriesHitlerletlooseuponmankind.thereneverwasawarinhistoryeasiertopreventbytimelyactionthantheonewhichhasjustdesolatedsuchgreatareasoftheglobe.Itcouldhavebeenpreventedinmybeliefwithoutthefiringofasingleshot,andGermanymightbepowerful,prosperousandhonoredtoday;butnoonewouldlistenandonebyonewewereallsuckedintotheawfulwhirlpool.Wesurely,ladiesandgentlemen,Iputittoyou,surely,wemustnotletithappenagain.Thiscanonlybeachievedbyreachingnow,in1946,byreachingagoodunderstandingonallpointswithRussiaunderthegeneralauthorityoftheUnitedNationsOrganizationandbythemaintenanceofthatgoodunderstandingthroughmanypeacefulyears,bythewholestrengthoftheEnglish-speakingworldandallitsconnections.ThereisthesolutionwhichIrespectfullyoffertoyouinthisAddresstowhichIhavegiventhetitle,“TheSinewsofPeace”.LetnomanunderratetheabidingpoweroftheBritishEmpireandCommonwealth.Becauseyouseethe46millionsinourislandharassedabouttheirfoodsupply,ofwhichtheyonlygrowonehalf,eveninwar-time,orbecausewehavedifficultyinrestartingourindustriesandexporttradeaftersixyearsofpassionatewareffort,donotsupposeweshallnotcomethroughthesedarkyearsofprivationaswehavecomethroughthegloriousyearsofagony.Donotsupposethathalfacenturyfromnowyouwillnotsee70or80millionsofBritonsspreadabouttheworldunitedindefenseofourtraditions,andourwayoflife,andoftheworldcauseswhichyouandweespouse.IfthepopulationoftheEnglish-speakingCommonwealthsbeaddedtothatoftheUnitedStateswithallthatsuchco-operationimpliesintheair,onthesea,allovertheglobeandinscienceandinindustry,andinmoralforce,therewillbenoquivering,precariousbalanceofpowertoofferitstemptationtoambitionoradventure.Onthecontrarytherewillbeanoverwhelmingassuranceofsecurity.IfweadherefaithfullytotheCharteroftheUnitedNationsandwalkforwardinsedateandsoberstrengthseekingnoone'slandortreasure,seekingtolaynoarbitrarycontroluponthethoughtsofmen;ifallBritishmoralandmaterialforcesandconvictionsarejoinedwithyourowninfraternalassociation,thehighroadsofthefuturewillbeclear,notonlyforourtime,butforacenturytocome.