FINAL VICTORY
Sta,—In this phase of the war our energies are necessarily directed to resisting the enemy's aerial offensive, and there is accordingly a danger that this immediate task may lead us to ignore the long-term issues on which this struggle may ultimately be decided.
It is problematical whether victory can be achieved solely by gaining supremacy in the air. Military operations will almost certainly be necessary, and there is no need to emphasise how formidable an undertaking the military defeat of the Axis Powers must prove to be. We shall require not only the full assistance of American supplies but all the active and indirect help which we can obtain from other sources. There are two such sources. The first is that of the peoples now under Nazi domination. The success of a Continental military campaign is largely dependent on the sympathetic co-operation of the civilians on whose soil we shall be fighting. What steps are we taking to secure 'such co-operation? The primary essential is to dissociate ourselves from all suggestions that we are fighting merely to preserve our imperial in- terests or are contemplating the restoration of a status quo in Europe, in which the smaller nations have certainly lost faith. We have to show that we are ready to assist in just as revolutionary a recon- struction as the Nazis propose, and that we are ready to sacrifice any of our own interests which may stand in the way of such a settle- ment. But, if we are seriously in earnest as to this, we should already be in touch with leading representatives of the nations concerned, including the anti-Nazi German elements, so as to draw up the out- lines of such a plan. Peace-aims, both in their preliminary and more detailed forms, in fact, must not go out as a British declaration but as the joint proposals of all peoples who desire to overthrow Nazi tyranny. There is every reason why a nucleus conference should already be at work drawing up an initial declaration and devising
how to flood Europe with this propaganda so soon as the moment is ripe.
The Soviet Republic is the other source of possible assistance. Without entering on the controversial questions which Russia may provoke, it can at least be agreed that Soviet interests are not gee, graphically antagonistic to our own. Mutual suspicions between our- selves and Russia are probably too deep-seated to allow of any over- tures directly from Britain. But it is obvious that the relations of America and Russia are the vital factor in the present situation, par- ticularly in view of the Japanese-Axis alliance The moral seems clear : diplomatic negotiations should now be taking place to enable America to assure Moscow that a British victory will assist rather than conflict with Soviet policy.
It is the uncertainty as to whether such activities are in process, or, indeed, whether the Government regards them as essential, which is causing uneasiness in the minds of many besides myself. The strength of the Axis must be met by the formation of a rival bloc. It would be tragic if the splendid efficiency of our Air Force and the defence services were not backed up by similar efficiency in the diplomatic field. It is in that field that we need to defeat the enemy, for it is there that the outcome of the war will finally be determined.
KENNETH INGRAM.
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