A Pledge is Made

GREAT BRITAIN

The Churchill Government, through the voice of Sir Stafford Cripps, pledged last week that Britain would make "a carefully planned attack on the continent of Europe." That was what legions of Britons had been crying to hear. But just what "attack" meant they still did not know.

This carefully phrased pledge of a second front was made after the Government had faced two days of Parliamentary criticism. But few of Churchill's Parliamentary prosecutors last week made a noise comparable to the clamorous public demand for heavy offensive action.

One speech, however, brought some of that clamor into Parliament. It was made by onetime War Secretary Leslie Hore-Belisha, long-standing political feudist with the Prime Minister. Said he:

"If we look at the fighting in Europe we may feel encouraged by the valiant and zestful manner in which the Russians have begun their spring offensive. . . . It would be prudent, however, and in accordance with Stalin's own judgment to take a more restrained view. . . .

"Why is it said that our position month by month is becoming stronger? In what respect? In respect of territory being added to our possessions? Surely not. The Japanese are still advancing. In respect of manpower? When the war broke out in the Far East we could claim that four-fifths of the population of the world were massed on our side. China alone has one-fifth of the population of the world and she is now cut off from the help of the United Nations. . . .

"If we can make, or talk of making, a second front in the West in order to help the Russians, surely the Japanese can make a second front in the East in order to embarrass the Russians. . . ."

As the Government's apologist, Sir Stafford Cripps replied in generalities, seemed tired. His speech not only failed to raise his political star, but, many felt, substantially lowered it. But while Sir Stafford, as the Government's mouthpiece, disappointed many, the leftish weekly Tribune, which Sir Stafford founded, voiced the clamor of millions of Britons:

"While the great battles in the East have raged for 14 days, we have made one attack with heavy bombers on southwest Germany. This makes a total of 18 raids on Germany during 54 days. Is this the great bomber offensive? Is this the second front in the air? Is this the great relief for Timoshenko's men who are battling day and night? The storm has broken in the Ukraine; it is threatening the Chinese and the Australians, it has reached the Indian border. But all remains sunshine and quiet on the Western Front. Is it unreasonable that our fighting men should be impatient?"

This week, despite bad weather, 50,000 Britons poured into Trafalgar Square for second-front mass meetings, staged by Lord Beaverbrook's Daily Express, where the Union Jack, Stars & Stripes and Hammer & Sickle flew in equal prominence.

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