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 Labour, 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 21 with provision for earlier meeting if need be. Business for that
will be notified to MPs 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 many 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 former 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 costsvictory 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.”