May 13, 1940
Winston Churchill "Blood, Toil, Tears and
Sweat"
First
Speech as Prime Minister to the House of Commons
MP3 - 1.8 Megs
I beg to move,
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.
On Friday
evening last I received His Majesty's commission to form a new Administration.
It as the evident wish and will of Parliament and the nation that this should
be conceived on the broadest possible basis and that it should include all
parties, both those who supported the late Government and also the parties of
the Opposition. I have completed the most important part of this task. A War
Cabinet has been formed of five Members, representing, with the Opposition
Liberals, the unity of the nation. The three party Leaders have agreed to
serve, either in the War Cabinet or in high executive office. The three
Fighting Services have been filled. It was necessary that this should be done
in one single day, on account of the extreme urgency and rigour of events. A
number of other positions, key positions, were filled yesterday, and I am
submitting a further list to His Majesty to-night. I hope to complete the
appointment of the principal Ministers during to-morrow. the appointment of the
other Ministers usually takes a little longer, but I trust that, 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 that the House should be summoned to meet today. Mr.
Speaker agreed, and took the necessary steps, in accordance with the powers
conferred upon him by the Resolution of the House. At the end of the
proceedings today, the Adjournment of the House will be proposed until Tuesday,
21st May, with, of course, provision for earlier meeting, if need be. The
business to be considered during that week will be notified to Members at the
earliest opportunity. I now invite the House, by the Motion which stands in my
name, to record its approval of the steps taken and to declare its confidence
in the new Government.
To form an Administration of this scale and
complexity is a serious undertaking in itself, but it must be remembered that
we are in the preliminary stage of one of the greatest battles in history, that
we are in action at many other points in Norway and in Holland, that we have to
be prepared in the Mediterranean, that the air battle is continuous and that
many preparations, such as have been indicated by my hon. Friend below the
Gangway, have to be made here at home. In this crisis I hope I may be pardoned
if I do not address the House at any length today. I hope that any of my
friends and colleagues, or former colleagues, who are affected by the political
reconstruction, will make allowance, all allowance, for any lack of ceremony
with which it has been necessary to act. I would say to the House, as I said to
those 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 long months of struggle and of
suffering. You ask, what is our policy? I can say: It is to wage war, by sea,
land and air, with all our might and with all the strength that God can give
us; to wage war against a monstrous tyranny, never surpassed in the dark,
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 terror, victory, however long and hard the road may be; for
without victory, there is no survival. Let that be realised; no survival for
the British Empire, no survival for all that the British Empire has stood for,
no survival for the urge and impulse of the ages, that mankind will move
forward towards its goal. But I take up my task with buoyancy and hope. I feel
sure that our cause will not be suffered to fail among men. At this time I feel
entitled to claim the aid of all, and I say, "come then, let us go forward
together with our united strength."
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