-50- #669, Eighteenth from London              
 
                                                            
 
 
lose the bond of combined self-preservation or are in danger 
                          of losing it.                     
 
                                                            
 
 
There is therefore demanded of us a moral and intellectual 
      impulse to unity and a clear conception and definition of joint 
      purpose sufficient to overbear the fleeting reinforcement which 
      our enemies will derive from the realization of their forlorn 
      condition. Can we produce that complete unity and that new impulse 
      in time to achieve of the world's misery or must we fall into 
      jabber decisive military victory with the least possible prolongation 
      Babel and discord while victory is still unattained. It seems 
      to me to be the supreme question alike of the hour and of the 
      age. This is no new problem in the history of mankind. Very often 
      have great combinations almost attained success and then at the 
      last moment cast it away. Very often by the triumphs and sacrifices 
      of armies they have reached the conference table only to cast 
      away what has been gained. Very often the eagles have been squalled 
      down by the parrots. Very often in particular the people of this 
      island indomitable in adversity have tasted the hard-won cup 
                 of success only to cast it away.           
 
                                                            
 
 
I therefore consider that this is a most grave moment to address 
      the House and it is one which affects the members of every party--and 
      all parties have the Credit of our war effort; it is no monopoly 
      to be flung from side to side in some future