Man's Passion for Freedom

Abstract

GENERAL SMUTS in his well-considered and judicial broadcast from South Africa on July 21, drew a favourable augury for the outcome of the coming attack on Great Britain from the indomitable spirit and unfailing courage of Allied troops in the withdrawal from Dunkirk. Against such a rock the waves of attack will beat in vain. It is, however, the spirit which informed the broadcast by Lord Halifax on July 22 which will bring victory—“the unconquerable passion of man for freedom”. Hitler's policy he denounced as the gospel of hate, the policy of brute force, his message to mankind the enthralment of the human spirit under ruthless tyranny. It is perhaps permissible to suggest here that the fanaticism of Germany's irruption over the peoples of Western Europe admits a second comparison with 'ancient” history—the great fanatical spread of Islam. Then in east and west, in Spain and in Palestine, it fell to the peoples organized under the banner of Christianity to turn back the tide of invasion of an alien faith. The present war also is a struggle of the spirit of Christianity against the brutal force of paganism. As Lord Halifax said, “We must march together in this crusade for Christianity. We and our great Dominions oversea stand, and shall continue to stand, four-square against the forces of evil”.