Summary:
Possibly the most famous historical figure ever to feature at the Cambridge Corn Exchange, Winston Churchill was at the time an isolated figure on the back benches on the Conservative Party. Within a few months he’d be recalled to Chamberlain’s Government as First Lord of the Admiralty – then a very important post in government, before becoming Prime Minister a year later. What follows is a transcription of the article published in the Cambridge Independent Press on 26 May 1939, from the British Newspaper Archive.
“The 2,500 undergraduates and others who packed the Com Exchange full on Friday night when Mr. Winston Churchill made there a striking speech on conscription, gave at the end of the meeting a convincing demonstration of the measure of their support for compulsory military training.
“By an overwhelming majority, estimated by the Chairman (the Master of Clare) to be about ten to one, the audience carried the following motion;
“That this meeting of Cambridge undergraduates gladly accepts the measure of conscription involved in the Military Training Bill, and they express their determination to maintain at any sacrifice England’s power to play her part, and to do her duty for the British Empire and the world causes that are now at stake.”
“Thanking the audience for its vote, Mr, Churchill declared;
“Make mistake about it, what you have done to-night will travel far and wherever it travels it can do nothing but to consolidate the assurances of peace and freedom throughout the world.”
OPPOSITION BLOCK
“The opposition at the meeting was concentrated chiefly in a block towards the centre of the hall Mr. Churchill was occasionally interrupted by cheers, ironic laughter and cries such as “Chamberlain must go.” but, generally speaking, the meeting passed off quietly.
“What violence there was occurred outside. Long before the meeting was due to start a queue formed outside, and after the hall had filled some of those unable to get in attempted to force an entrance. A rush was made on the west door, and in the course of the melee a policeman lost his helmet. Other officers repelled attempts to enter the main door.”
“A crowd of undergraduates several hundred strong remained in Corn Exchange Street until a proctor ordered them to disperse. All Cambridge police were on duty. Another vast crowd gathered in the Lion Hotel, where the proceedings in the Corn Exchange were relayed by means of loud speakers.
Mr Churchill
“Mr. Winston Churchill began by saying that he had come to speak at the meeting because learnt that the University desired opportunity of testifying its resolve and conviction in time serious public need.
“The voice of Cambridge and of Cambridge undergraduates – the true voice – has a right to heard,” he added, “and will certainly be marked because so many of them are claimed by the new Conscription Act, now and in the next few years, and many more who are not claimed by it will take great pains to range themselves at the side of their other comrades.” (Applause.)
“It was our duty to make sure that the cause was good (Hear, hear, and applause.) After many hesitations and long delays, which might cost us dear, Great Britain had resolved to take a leading part forming and sustaining a league of freedom and freedom-loving peoples to resist, if necessary by force, further acts of aggression by the Nazi or Fascist Powers. (Applause.)
The two remarkable men who had risen to power in Germany and Italy both in the early stages rendered great services to their countries
‘‘Both” Mr. Churchill continued, “were carried away by the habit of despotism and the lust of conquest, and both at the present time seem ready to array themselves against the progress of the modern age. They cannot pursue their course of aggression further without bringing about a general war of measureless devastation. To submit to their encroachment would be to condemn large portion of mankind to their rule. To resist them, either in peace or, which God forfend, in war will be dangerous, painful and hard.”
“There is no use at this stage in concealing these plain facts.
“Our country must go forward into this business only when and as it realises plainly both what the cost may be and what are the issues at stake.
“Let us therefore, make it clear at the very outset that a league of nations is now being formed into grand alliance which in no circumstances will attack the dictator Powers, nor will hamper or obstruct their natural and lawful prosperity, nor will invade their internal jurisdiction, nor will seek to deprive them of their legitimate share in the expanding future the world, nor will we shed blood except self-defence or common defence.”
Based on League Covenant
“We based our position absolutely upon the Covenant of the League of Nations. (Applause.) That covenant not only obliged loyal members of the League to proceed to each other’s aid according to their ability; it also obliged them to provide sincere and efficacious means for the redress of injustice and well-founded grievances. (A voice: Like Spain!)
“If we use force to control force we must also offer justice to relieve injustice,” went on Mr. Churchill, amid applause “This is inherent in the Covenant of the League, and would not myself invite, still less compel, any man to come forward—or woman, for all must be their part—on any basis which does not in the letter and in the spirit conform to that solemn document signed by almost all the leading countries of the world in order to prevent, if possible, a renewal of the last destructive war. ”
“That is the position. There no element of imperial ambition in our policy; no taunt, worded provocation, no diplomatic entanglement—(laughter)—-no affront to mere pride will tempt us to aggressive action.”
We stand together
“We stand together (Interruption.) Really we stand together. I say it to those who seem have a sort of antagonism from which, assure them, they will soon free themselves. (Applause.)
“We stand together against violence and tyranny, and we seek nothing but to make a strong effort with the people other countries to defend the reign of law and freedom for all. (Hear, hear, and applause.) ‘I submit that on these lines, as I have defined it, the cause is good.” (Applause.)
“The cause was good What about the Government? (laughter and applause.) “Was it good?”—(cries “Yes!” and “No!”) —or was it bad?— (more cries of “Yes!” and “No!”) —or was it just indifferent?
“Continuing Mr. Churchill said that no one had been more constant than he in criticising for the last three or four years the sloth and incompetence which had hampered our preparations for defence (applause)—and had played a marked part in bringing Europe its present perilous plight. (Applause.) In particular he (Mr. Churchill) had urged for more than a year the formation the Grand Alliance, or Peace Bloc. (Applause.) It would have prevented the ruin of Czechoslovakia, (loud applause)—and it might yet preserve Poland and the further smaller States of Europe from similar fate.
Issue about Party
He submitted that these matters of national defence and foreign policy ought to place upon a plane above party and apart from the natural antagonisms which separated Government and Opposition (Applause.)
They threatened the life of the nation, and they influenced the fortunes of the world, would not be right for any Socialists or Liberals at the present meeting to allow any prejudices they might have against the present Government or its head prevent them giving a clear vote the issue presented to them on the order an issue of national safety and national duty.
“It is not within the power any one us to control or manage events,” Mr. Churchill went on. “They may well by well-managed or they may ill-managed”
“It is our duty as far as it lies in the daily scope of each one of us to do our best for the main purpose and the cardinal cause. If all do that, all will be all right. (Laughter). All will come right. If every one of us does his part, all will be well, not only for this island but for all those countries who look to this ancient island people for guidance in the course they should take” (Applause).
The scene has changed
“Going on to consider the reasons for the introduction of conscription, Mr. Churchill remarked that he himself had not until lately pressed conscription on the Government; he had been content to urge, a purely technical view, a compulsory National Register with the declaration that universal National Service would be introduced on the outbreak of war.
“What has happened since to change this view?” he asked “Why, gentlemen, the whole scene has changed. The Government which allowed Czecho-Slovakia to be broken and disarmed was suddenly surprised and horrified that Herr Hitler marched into Prague and actually subjugated the people and stole all their belongings. This damnable outrage—(loud applause)—opened the eyes of the blind, and made the deaf hear, and even in some cases the dumb spoke! (Laughter.)
“Our Government felt themselves to be deceived and defrauded by Herr Hitler (A voice Question !)—just as they had been by Signor Mussolini in whom they had so confidingly put their trust. His Majesty’s Government turned round over the weekend.”
Best hopes of peace
“They adopted and Mr. Churchill hoped they adopted it whole-heartedly, the policy which their opponents had long advocated. He believed that that new policy contained in it the best hopes of peace (applause)—and if peace should be unhappily broken the best hopes for the victory and survival of the free nations of the world.
“The Government had made commitments which a year ago would certainly have saved the situation, and still, if carried out with fidelity and resolution, might ward off the worst of disasters. Referring to our obligations to France, Mr. Churchill remarked;
“I can assure you, ladies and gentlemen, that in the pass to which things have come we stand at least as much in the need of the aid of France as the French are of the aid of Britain.”
“His (Mr. Churchill’s) feeling had been for several years past that the first essential for the freedom and safety of all of us lay in the close association of the British and French democracies. The French had the finest, though not the largest, army in existence at the present time, and Great Britain had a Navy which so long as we preserved the sympathy and goodwill of the United States, was overwhelmingly strong.
Sheet anchor of freedom
“The co-operation of those two great forces constituted the sheet-anchor of freedom and progress. He had, therefore, felt grateful and thankful that the two countries had fused together in an open and unbreakable alliance. That alliance was based upon closer military, naval and air co-operation. Going to consider the necessity for conscription, Mr. Churchill referred to the Nazi propaganda in France, and reminded his audience that recently Chamberlain had heard that it was being said that England would fight to the last French soldier. The French did not understand our outlook, the outlook a nation which for the last thousand years had not seen the fires of an invading camp, They only knew that they would have to stand for many months a German cannonade while we were training our men. They did not think it fair, and it would not have been fair. (Hear, hear, and applause.)
“Most dangerous propaganda was on foot to sever the loyalty which united the two Western democracies. The rise of feeling in France some time ago was something no British Government could afford to ignore. If insidious propaganda had driven a wedge between ourselves and France, the ruin of the world would have been speedy.
ITALY’S YOUTHFUL WARRIORS.
“We have every reason to be contented with the reception which the Conscription Bill has received abroad,” went on Mr. Churchill. “It could never have been intended to overawe Germany or Italy. In those countries they count their soldiers by the million, and Signor Mussolini says he has 8,000,000 warriors, including infantry! (Laughter and applause.) They begin very young there, in their cradles they are given a Fascist dagger to cut their teeth on!” (Applause.)
“It is the effect upon our allies and upon those countries to whom have given guarantees that we must look. This very limited measure makes it plain that should unhappily be involved in any war the British contribution will not only be naval and in the air and financial and industrial and moral, but also military. (Applause.)
“All that have heard from France shows the importance of the advantages which have been gained in French public opinion and in the French Army,
“Nazi propaganda has received a convincing answer.”
“The measure also encouraged other countries on the borders of Nazidom.
“I always use that word whenever I can in preference to Germany,” said Mr. Churchill, “I keep the word ‘German’ and ‘Germany’ hoping the day may come when they assume their old significance.” (Loud and prolonged applause.)
SATISFACTORY RECEPTION.
“The reception of the measure at home had also been satisfactory. The Opposition parties felt it was their duty to oppose the introduction of compulsory military service in peace
“They have absolute right to do this in a free nation,” Mr. Churchill declared. “When somebody said to me how shocking it was that the Liberals, the Labour Party and the Trades Unions were not in favour, I could not help remarking that perhaps they were still impressed by the arguments we were told by our leaders up a month ago.
“I am glad the old Liberal Party have joined up in the line, and having made their protest against conscription have done their best to make the application of the system as effective as possible.”
“CONSCRIPTION IS DEMOCRATIC.”
“Conscription was about the most far reaching democratic thing that had ever been done in this island. (Applause.) “Provided no exemptions are allowed, it will wear away differences between class and class more than anything that could have bean devised or could have happened,” Mr. Churchill went on, amid applause.
“It may, and I hope it will, be the beginning of a far more broadly and fundamentally based society than any have known.” (Applause.) There was much from which to take encouragement. When war broke out in 1914, the ruling classes had to convince the people that the cause was good. Now the main impulse to resist dictatorship and oppose aggression came every country with whom we were associated from the mind of the peoples. Almost everywhere we saw hesitating governments and resolute peoples. In Britain the spirit of the people was far ahead of the Government, and perhaps ahead of Parliament also. There was still time for the countries ruled by dictators to place themselves in harmony with the overwhelming majority of the human race—in harmony with its irresistible forward movement.
SIGNS OF BRITAIN’S EARNESTNESS
“Mr. Churchill had heard that high official in Berlin the other day told Herr Hitler,
“You will know Britain is in earnest on the day that the British working-classes accept conscription and when the Conservative Party agree to an alliance with Russia. (Hear, hear, and applause.)
“If we for peace, or, failing peace, victory, we have got to have both,” declared Mr. Churchill.
“This is a time when prejudices must be abandoned on all sides and true comradeship established between all parties and classes throughout our loyal and ancient land.”
Continuing’, Mr Churchill said that he was glad that the Government had proclaimed the principle that no man, whatever his calling, should grow richer out of war, if wax- should come. (Applause.)
He did not accept the phrase “conscription of wealth,” because he did not know what it meant, it was the duty of the Opposition parties, if they used the phrase, to explain what they meant it.
“Certainly it would not be a fair thing to take advantage of the present emergency to establish Communism by a short cut,” said Mr. Churchill. “At the present time more than three-quarters is already taken of large incomes and more than a half of large estates at death, and of course more will be taken if war should come. So a very large portion wealth is what you may call conscription already.”
TAKING PROFIT OUT OF WAR.”
“He favoured the principle of what was called in the United States “taking the profits out. of war” —(applause and hear, hear) —which meant that no man came out of war richer than he went in. We were to have legislation to give effect to that in the near future.
“The Conscription Bill and its general acceptance the country was great act of faith the part of the British democracy, (Applause.) “To-day, before a shot has been fired when perhaps shot will never be fired we are taking this tremendous step and taking it with an overwhelming majority national acceptance” Mr. Churchill went on, amid applause.
“What took two years of bloody war only to attain with difficulty in 1916 is now practically conceded by the will of the nation in a time of nominal peace. That it the point which should impress foreign countries, because it is the explicit guarantee of the resolve of the British people to bear their part in what is plainly world cause. (Applause.)
THE RUSSIAN NEGOTIATIONS.
“Turning to the Russian negotiations, Mr. Churchill said:
“We must take care that his Majesty’s Government do not fall so far behind the national efforts and the national danger to deprive us of this all-important external aid.” (Loud and prolonged applause.)”
“Mr. Churchill referred to encouraging factors and stressed as some of these the attitude of the United States, of President Roosevelt, and of the Dominions. “Is it not remarkable,” asked Mr Churchill, “the unity and spontaneity the movement and the conviction which has swept across the English-speaking races the world that their moral inheritance is challenged?” “We have made it clear we don’t seek to take sides in quarrel of rival ideologies – or idiotologies!” If we did not take sides it did not mean that had not strong conception of our own ideas.
GIVING THE LIE TO FOREIGN PRESS.
“The motion supporting conscription was moved by Mr. li. N. Wadsworth, vice-chairman of the C.U.C.A., the organisation which had arranged the meeting. The motion was seconded Mr. V. A. Annett. “I hope, in passing, shall give the lie to certain sections of the foreign Press,” said Mr. Annett, who mentioned that he was subject to conscription himself.
“A vote of thanks to Mr. Churchill was proposed Mr, J. Kee (secretary of the C.U.C.A.), and seconded by Mr. J, F. Donaldson. Mr. Churchill briefly replied.
“He was introduced to the meeting by the Chairman, who was supported on the platform by, among others, Mr. K. W. M. Pickthorn, M.P., Professor Inglis and Alderman. E. O. Brown.
“The Master of Clare said that the meeting was called at the request of a large section of the undergraduates of the University to give an opportunity to members of the University, especially the junior members, to express their opinion upon the new Military Training Bill.
“Mr. Wilson went on to refer to the Union Society vote against compulsory national service. The reference was greeted with mingled hisses, boos and applause. A debate such as that and the vote which was recorded on that occasion could not, said Mr Wilson, really be taken as completely representative of undergraduate opinion in the University—(applause) —as it was confined to members of the Society. The present meeting was open to all members the University.”
Lost Cambridge 