A HOPEFUL SURVEY
TN his survey of the world situation in the House of Corn- I moms last Tuesday the Prime Minister equalled his own best performances, and unfolded the grounds for confidence without exaggeration or understatement. He discussed his meeting with President Roosevelt and ranged over the whole held of military operations as they have developed in recent months, the only important theme on which he said less than was expected being the situation in the Far East. The broad picture that he drew included the Eight-Point Declaration, the Battle of the Atlantic, the Middle. East, and the war in Russia. In regard to the Eight-Point Declaration, it is important to explain, as he did, that it does not qualify the various .state- ments of policy which have been made about India and the British Empire. We are already pledged to a policy for India and for the progressive evolution of self-governing institutions in the dependencies. Our policy in that sphere is not touched by the Declaration, though it is in harmony with it. It is well that Mr. Churchill took the opportunity of making this point. Similarly, it was right to make the position in Syria quite clear. We have not conquered Syria merely to substitute a Free French for a Vichy French administration. Though the position of France in Syria will be recognised as one of special privilege, Ise are pledged to the independence of Syria, and it is intended to increase Syria's share in her own administration even during the war. Members were obviously anxious to hear what help this country is intending to give to Russia. On the strategical aspects of this question Mr. Churchill was not to be drawn, but he dwelt on the fact that we must accept sacrifice both by send- ing material we want ourselves to Russia and by consenting to the diversion thither of supplies from America.
