Allied Governments in Britain
Great Britain is now the home of many Governments which are unable to function in their own countries but are the true representatives of peoples now subjected to German rule, and are by no means powerless to contribute some share to the war of liberation. Dr. Benes is recognised as President of the Czecho-Slovak Republic, and he has now behind him a pro- visional Government and the nucleus of a Parliament, and also thousands of soldiers and airmen who have made a double escape from their own country and from France. Poland, to has its Government, and its soldiers, sailors and airmen now ready to operate from this country. That the presence of King Haakon of Norway in this country has significance for the Ger. mans as well as for the Norwegians and the British is proved by the efforts they have made to secure his abdication—in vain. Queen Wilhelmina not only retains the trust and affection of her people imprisoned in Holland, but is the effective sovereign of the great Dutch Empire overseas. General de Gaulle lack official recognition in France, but he is acclaimed as leader by many French officers and men of the French Navy, who are manning French ships operating from British ports, and by soldiers, including a regiment of the Foreign Legion, who have elected to fight on for the cause of French freedom. Together these Allied Governments control forces of real fighting value, and—of even greater importance—provide effective means of ensuring continuous consideration of all the Allies' interest. There would be much to be said for forming an inter-Allied Council to maintain a common outlook and a uniform policy, so that nothing may be left undone to harness the good will of all the Allies to the cause and to ensure that there is as much community of effort as there is of interest. It will not be forgotten that the Governments still have some means of contact with the people of their own countries.
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