"BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS"
Winston Churchill (May 13, 1940 ) On Friday evening last I received from His Majesty the mission to form a new administration.
It was the evident will of Parliament and the nation that this should be conceived on the broadest possible basis and that it should include all parties.
I have already completed the most important part of this task. A war cabinet has been formed of five members, representing, with the Labor, Opposition and Liberals, the unity of the nation.
It was necessary that this should be done in one single day on account of the extreme urgency and rigor of events. Other key positions were filled yesterday. I am submitting a further list to the King tonight. I hope to complete the appointment of principal Ministers during tomorrow.
The appointment of other Ministers usually takes a little longer. I trust 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 to the Speaker that the House should be summoned today. At the end of today's proceedings, the adjournment of the House will be proposed until May 2l with provision for earlier meeting if need be. Business for that will be notified to M. P. 's at the earliest opportunity.
I now invite the House by a resolution to record its approval of the steps taken and declare its confidence in the new government. The resolution:
"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."
To form an administration of this scale and complexity is a serious undertaking in itself. But we are in the preliminary Phase of one of the greatest battles in history. We are in action at any other points-in Norway and in Holland-and we have to be prepared in the Mediterranean. The air battle is continuing, and many preparations have to be made here at home.
In this crisis I think I may be pardoned if I do not address the House at any length today, and I hope that any of my friends and colleagues or for mer colleagues who are affected by the political reconstruction will make all allowances for any lack of ceremony with which it has been necessary to act.
I say to the House as I said to Ministers 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 months of struggle and suffering.
You ask, what is our policy? I say it is to wage war by land, sea and air. War with all our might and with all the strength God has given us, and to wage war against a monstrous tyranny never surpassed in the dark and 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 terrors-victory, however long and hard the road may be, for without victory there is no survival.
Let that be realized. No survival for the British Empire, no survival for all that the British Empire has stood for, no survival for the urge, the impulse of the ages, that mankind shall move forward toward his goal.
I take up my task in buoyancy and hope. I feel sure that our cause will not be suffered to fail among men.
I feel entitled at this juncture, at this time, to claim the aid of all and to say, "Come then, let us go forward together with our united strength."
“热血、汗水和眼泪”
上星期五晚上,我奉陛下之命,组织新的一届政府。
按国会和国民的意愿,新政府显然应该考虑建立在尽可能广泛的基础上,应该兼容所有的党派。
我已经完成了这项任务的最主要的部分。战时内阁已由五人组成,包括工党、反对党和自由党,这体现了举国团结一致。
由于事态的极端紧急和严峻,新阁政府须于一天之内组成,其他的关键岗位也于昨日安排就绪。今晚还要向国王呈报一份名单。我希望明天就能完成几位主要大臣的任命。
其余大臣们的任命照例得晚一些。我相信,在国会下一次召开时,任命将告完成,臻于完善。
为公众利益着想,我建议议长今天就召开国会。今天的议程结束时,建议休会到5月21日,并准备在必要时提前开会。有关事项当会及早通知各位议员。
现在我请求国会作出决议,批准我所采取的各项步骤,启示记录在案,并且声明信任新政府。决议如下:
“本国会欢迎新政府的组成,她体现了举国一致的坚定不移的决心:对德作战,直到最后胜利。”
组织如此规模和如此复杂的政府原本是一项重大的任务。但是我们正处于历史上罕见的一场大战的初始阶段。我们在其他许多地点作战——在挪威,在荷兰,我们还必须在地中海做好准备。空战正在继续,而且在本土也必须做好许多准备工作。
值此危急关头,我想,即使我今天向国会的报告过于简略,也当能见谅。我还希望所有在这次改组中受到影响的朋友、同僚和旧日的同僚们对必要的礼仪方面的任何不周之处能毫不介意。
我向国会表明,一如我向入阁的大臣们所表明的,我所能奉献的唯有热血、辛劳、眼泪和汗水我们所面临的将是一场极其严酷的考验,将是旷日持久的斗争和苦难。
若问我们的政策是什么?我的回答是:在陆上、海上、空中作战。尽我们的全力,尽上帝赋予我们的全部力量去作战,对人类黑暗、可悲的罪恶史上空前凶残的暴政作战。这就是我们的政策。
若问我们的目标是什么?我可以用一个词来回答,那就是胜利。不惜一切代价,去夺取胜利——不惧一切恐怖,去夺取胜利——不论前路如何漫长、如何艰苦,去夺取胜利。因为没有胜利就不能生存。
我们务必认识到,没有胜利就不复有大英帝国,没有胜利就不复有大英帝国所象征的一切,没有胜利就不复有多少世纪以来的强烈要求和冲动:人类应当向自己的目标迈进。
我精神振奋、满怀信心地承担起我的任务。我确信,大家联合起来,我们的事业就不会遭到挫败。
在此时此刻的危急关头,我觉得我有权要求各方面的支持。我要说:“来吧,让我们群策群力,并肩前进!”
下一篇: 英语演讲:我们该选择死亡吗?
新西兰惊现11岁少年父亲 与同学36岁母亲产子
背包客旅行准备中需要注意五处
国际传媒大亨默多克提出与邓文迪离婚
娱乐英语资讯:British actor Tim Roth receives top Sarajevo Film Festival award
又是一年毕业季:10大最佳毕业典礼演讲
奥巴马2013父亲节致辞:家庭最重要
G8峰会:奥巴马独占酒店体育馆 普京被迫冰湖游泳
国内英语资讯:China, U.S. negotiation teams maintain effective communication: MOC
普京否认窃取超级杯戒指
普京支持叶卡捷琳堡申办世博会英文讲话:“蹩脚英语”很治愈
美国情报部门“棱镜门”事件 揭秘者斯诺登的自白
那些振奋人心的毕业致辞究竟保质期有多久
三亚游客强抱搁浅海豚合影 终因失血过多死亡
国内英语资讯:China Focus: China to grandly celebrate 70th National Day
浪漫其实并不难:如何做一个浪漫的人?
国内英语资讯:China honors outstanding builders of socialism with Chinese characteristics
最美好的时光:毕业后工作前你该做什么?
联合国:世界人口到2025年将达81亿
美安全局曾在G20峰会监视梅德韦杰夫绝密信件
国内英语资讯:Xi, Duterte meet on pushing forward ties
公司培训新员工做的投资到底值不值
My Ideal Job 我理想的工作
细节改变生活:8种特别的方式让生活更美好
英国逾40万人不交电视费 理由五花八门
致那些可以助你职场晋升的软技能
工作狂要小心:压力太大会导致一夜白头!
国内英语资讯:Xi calls for joint efforts with Philippines in achieving early adoption of COC
体坛英语资讯:Man City beat Liverpool on penalties to lift Community Shield
对付“咸猪手”有新招 日本“防狼印章”半小时售罄
真人版维纳斯:美国独臂女孩摘“美国小姐”区冠军