The Lord Privy Seal (Viscount Cranborne)My Lords, I beg to move that the House do now proceed to Westminster Hall for the purpose of presenting to Her Majesty the humble Address ordered on Tuesday, 25th April last; and that thereafter the House do adjourn and do meet again in this Chamber on Tuesday next at half-past two o'clock.
If your Lordships will forgive a rather more pedestrian note, in moving the Motion, perhaps I may remind your Lordships that the doors of Westminster Hall will be closed at 11.30 a.m. and I would urge your Lordships to take your seats in good time.
Moved, That the House do now proceed to Westminster Hall for the purpose of presenting to Her Majesty the humble Address ordered on Tuesday, 25th April last; and that thereafter the House do adjourn and do meet again in this Chamber on Tuesday next at half-past two o'clock.—(Viscount Cranborne.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.
§ Whereupon the House proceeded to Westminster Hall accordingly, where the Lord Chancellor presented to Her Majesty the humble Address ordered on 25th April last.
§ The Address from the House of Lords was as follows:
§ "Most Gracious Sovereign,
§ "We, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, welcome this occasion to commemorate and celebrate with Your Majesty and Members of the House of Commons the fiftieth anniversary of the end of the Second World War and our historic victory in conjunction with our allies over the Axis powers. We recall with gratitude the years of heroic effort and united steadfastness by the Armed Forces of the Crown, by the Merchant Navy and by unarmed civilians, by the inhabitants of these islands, by the Commonwealth and Empire and by our allies. We recall those who fought with courage and endurance for the causes of justice and freedom. We-remember with sorrow and admiration those who gave their lives. We remember those who suffered. We give thanks also for the inspiring example given by His late Majesty King George VI and Her Majesty the Queen Mother in time of war.
§ "Since 1945 we have been blessed with a great measure of peace and spared the horrors of world war. We have seen the collapse of totalitarian regimes which for decades posed a threat to our continuing freedom and the peace of the world. For this we give heartfelt thanks to Almighty God. We pay tribute to 1546 the part which Your Majesty has played, throughout Your reign, in upholding and adorning our cherished tradition of Parliamentary government under the Crown. We pray that our successors may continue to enjoy the blessings of peace in freedom and just government, and we unite in saying 'God bless Your Majesty'."
§ The Lord Chancellor then spoke as follows:
§ "May it please Your Majesty,
§ "We, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, gathered together with the Commons in this ancient and historic hall, share with Your Majesty as the three parts of Parliament in thankful commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the ending of the Second World War. Westminster Hall, hallowed in our history, provides a fitting setting for us to come together in Parliament assembled, and also with veterans from the War, and representatives of all those others whose efforts helped us to victory.
§ "We come together to give thanks for the sacrifices of the last World War and to celebrate the heroism and valour of those who served in the Armed Forces of the Crown. We honour the memory of those who gave their lives, whether from our own isles or from overseas, in a common cause.
§ "Unlike many previous hostilities, the Second World War was not fought by the Armed Forces of the Crown and our heroic Merchant Marine alone. It was a conflict into which civilians were drawn inexorably, thus bringing the conflict to our homes and to those who strove to protect them, in particular those who worked in factories or laboured after Dunkirk to keep our country's fighting forces with our guard up and courage unabated.
§ "In the great conflict that followed, which finally led to the unconditional surrender of our enemies, we were uplifted by the example of Your Majesty's royal father, King George VI, and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, who shared with your people the dangers through which we lived. The simplicity of their lives during the war years, their encouragement to the forces and to those who were working in the factories and on the land in the war effort, their visits in the Blitz to comfort the bereaved, the wounded and those who had lost their homes provided inspiration to us all. Your Majesty's own example to the young people of the nation, in particular through uniformed service in the Auxiliary Territorial Service, was warmly appreciated and has not been forgotten.
§ "During the conflict many Members of the House of Lords took their part, both in uniform and at home, and laid down their lives, as is recorded in the Book of Remembrance which is shortly to be borne into this Hall.
§ "Meanwhile, here in Westminster, the Palace was attacked by bombing, but, despite the destruction of one Chamber of our Parliament, we maintained the liveliness of our Parliamentary institutions—in both Houses—under the fire of the enemy.
1547§ "We celebrate the part played by the people and Armed Forces of the Commonwealth and Empire throughout the world, who joined together voluntarily as free people to wage war on the aggressors. We remember with gratitude our Allies, who as comrades in a joint venture fought together for the cause of freedom.
§
"In 1945, celebrating our final victory, it was rightly said by Sir Winston Churchill that:
'It is the victory of the cause of freedom in every land. In all our long history we have never seen a greater day than this. Everyone, man or woman, has done their best. Everyone has tried. Neither the long years, nor the dangers, nor the fierce attacks of the enemy, have in any way weakened the independent resolve of the British nation'.
§ "We prayed then that, under God's guidance, all nations should work together to ensure that the peace, for which so many lives had been laid down, should not be broken by evil men and that the nations of the world should enjoy security, happiness and above all continuing peace. This hope expressed in 1945 at first seemed doomed to failure in the grim realities of the cold war, and there were many who thought that, although we had won the War, we had lost the peace. More recently, however, the West in alliance has gradually prevailed over a hostile ideology. But conflicts and oppressive regimes still darken the lives of so many people. We continue to owe it to those who sacrificed so much for us to do all in our power to bring the fruits of victory, peace and freedom to every man, woman and child the world over.
§ "Your Majesty, it is our hope and solemn resolve that we should not forget the sacrifices of those who have fallen and that we should not cease to fight to preserve our freedom and Parliamentary rule, giving thanks to Almighty God, praying that we and those who may come after us may continue to live in peace and concord with each other and with those throughout the world."
§ Then Madam Speaker, on behalf of the Commons (also assembled in the Hall), presented to Her Majesty an Address from that House.