Telegram 109
Ottawa, June 23, 1941
The following is statement issued last night from Prime Minister’s office items regarding Russian-German war. Begins.
The German declaration of war upon Russia constitutes a fresh call to arms throughout the British Commonwealth: It has removed the last shadow of doubt, if any yet remained, concerning the purpose of Hitler to dominate the world.
With a cynicism unequaled in the history of perfidy, Germany entered into a pact with Soviet Russia, in order that Russia might be kept inactive until the continent of Europe, including France, was conquered. That agreement has now been broken with the same cynicism and perfidy with which it was signed.
Balked in his effort to break the might of Britain, Hitler has clearly decided to take immediately, instead of later, another essential step in his march towards world conquest, namely, the subjugation of Russia. If successful in this purpose, the Nazi armies, undisputed masters of continental Europe and a large part of Asia, would then have in their possession vast stores of wheat and oil and munitions of war, for use in a final desperate onslaught against Britain and the western world.
The Nazi attack on Soviet Russia is not a crusade against any Red family. Rather it is a new phase of the attack on Britain and all of the democracies: Should Germany prevail in her campaign against Russia, she would successfully eliminate the threat of war on two fronts and leave herself free to concentrate all her forces against Britain and the West.
Hitler’s invasion of Russia is also an attempt to deceive and divide the People of the United States and the peoples of the British Commonwealth and their allies by trying to make it again appear that he is the enemy of Bolshevism. Whatever one’s opinions may be about the philosophy of the Russian revolution, however strongly some of Russia’s international activities may be condemned, the plain fact is today that, as Russia fights Germany, it is not Russia which is a threat to freedom and peace. That threat is Nazi Germany. Indeed one of the effects of Germany’s attack on Russia should be to put an end to Communistic activities on the part of Russian sympathizers in other lands.
The diversion on the eastern front should enable Britain and America to strengthen the western front. It is not a time for less effort, but for more effort. It is not a time either for any division of opinion, but for strengthened unity opinion. The Christian faith, whether it be Catholic or Protestant, depends for its survival as a civilizing force amongst mankind upon the destruction of Nazism. Every force which fights Hitler today is fighting, whether consciously or unconsciously, for the preservation of Christian civilization. Every day Which Russian resistance holds German aggression, is a day contributed to the cause of freedom and the growing power of the British Commonwealth and the United States of America. Let us never forget that the declaration of war on Russia is designed by Germany to make itself stronger and the British Commonwealth of Nations and our allies weaker. We must continue to keep this simple truth before us. Everyone who engages our enemy advances our cause. Ends.
