Foreign Office mandarins today must be highly pleased with events. Ambiguity is often their preferred avenue and this week the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has been in China on a mission to encourage closer economic ties. Tomorrow Tom Tugendhat, no friend of China, arrives in Taiwan to demonstrate the UK’s commitment there.
Ambiguity is the friend of the Church of England too. Communicants are offered a choice, not of wine but of what it is after consecration; the blood of Christ or symbolic of Christ’s blood shed for us. Again, at the Induction of a clergyman (clergy person?) the new incumbent faces the altar to make promises to God and then faces the congregation to make secular commitments. But I digress.
Churchill made his last substantial speech in the House of Commons while he was still Prime Minister in March 1955.
“He juxtaposed the revelation that his government was working on a hydrogen bomb with a vision of hope for the future. By a ‘process of sublime irony’, he declared, the world appeared to be approaching ‘a stage in this story where safety will be the sturdy child of terror, and survival the twin brother of annihilation’. The Cold War would continue for another thirty-five years, but it never became a hot war largely because, as Churchill recognised well before the term Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) became popular, weapons of war could also double-up as weapons of peace.” (Churchill and Nuclear Weapons, Kevin Ruane)
Elegant ambiguity ending on a note of optimism.
”Which way shall we turn to save our lives and the future of the world? It does not matter so much to old people; they are going soon anyway; but I find it poignant to look at youth in all its activity and ardour . . . And wonder what would lie before them if God wearied of mankind.”
. . . mercifully, there is time and hope if we combine patience and courage. All deterrents will improve and gain authority during the next ten years. By that time, the deterrent may well reach its acme and reap its final reward. The day may dawn when fair play, love for one’s fellow men, respect for justice and freedom, will enable tormented generations to march forth serene and triumphant from the hideous epoch in which we have to dwell. Meanwhile, never flinch, never weary, never despair.” (Extracts from Churchill’s speech, House of Commons, 1st March 1955)
Words to ponder on today. Churchill never spoke in the Commons again after he resigned as Prime Minister although he was an MP for nine more years.
The video is excellent. Such a clever program. Thank you for kicking off the weekend with a chuckle.