21 OCTOBER 1938, Page 3

Mr. Churchill's Appeal Mr. Churchill's broadcast address to the United

States this week was a brilliant and moving appeal for American support in the defence of democracy against dictatorship. There are many who will regret that it was not heard in this country as well as America. As Mr. Churchill said, there are many Americans who, haying observed the fate of Abyssinia, of China, of Spain, of Czechoslovakia, no longer believe in the sincerity of this country's professions and prefer to wash their hands of democracy in Europe. Mr. Churchill urged them not to adopt this course, as it would mean that in the end democratic America would find herself alone in a hostile world. But very rightly, Mr. Churchill did not base his appeal on motives of self-interest, of strategy, or of fear ; he invoked those democratic ideals which are best expressed- by the claim of every American to " life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," a claim which is little heard of in Europe today. It is a claim to which Americans, who fought to make it a reality, cannot fail to respond. To make it today no doubt means to emphasise, as Mr. Churchill did, the profound antagonism between National Socialist and democratic ideals. But to ignore that antagonism is to risk losing those liberties which are the common heritage of the Anglo-Saxon peoples and the strongest bond of their friendship. * * * *