Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat Persuasive Speech
I beg to move,
That this House welcomes the formation of a Government representing the united and inflexible resolve of
the nation to prosecute the war with Germany to a victorious conclusion.
On Friday evening last I received His Majesty's Commission to form a new Administration. It was the
evident wish and will of Parliament and the nation that this should be conceived on the broadest possible
basis and that it should include all parties, both those who supported the late Government and also the
parties of the Opposition. I have completed the most important part of this task. A War Cabinet has been
formed of five Members, representing, with the Opposition Liberals, the unity of the nation. The three party
Leaders have agreed to serve, either in the War Cabinet or in high executive office. The three Fighting
Services have been filled. It was necessary that this should be done in one single day, on account of the
extreme urgency and rigour of events. A number of other positions, key positions, were filled yesterday,
and I am submitting a further list to His Majesty to-night. I hope to complete the appointment of the
principal Ministers during to-morrow.
The appointment of the other Ministers usually takes a little longer, but I trust that, when Parliament meets
again, this part of my task will be completed, and that the administration will be complete in all respects.
I considered it in the public interest to suggest that the House should be summoned to meet to-day. Mr.
Speaker agreed, and took the necessary steps, in accordance with the powers conferred upon him by the
Resolution of the House. At the end of the proceedings to-day, the Adjournment of the House will be
proposed until Tuesday, 21st May, with, of course, provision for earlier meeting, if need be. The business
to be considered during that week will be notified to Members at the earliest opportunity.
I now invite the House, by the Motion which stands in my name, to record its approval of the steps taken
and to declare its confidence in the new Government.
To form an Administration of this scale and complexity is a serious undertaking in itself, but it must be
remembered that we are in the preliminary stage of one of the greatest battles in history, that we are in
action at many other points in Norway and in Holland, that we have to be prepared in the Mediterranean,
that the air battle is continuous and that many preparations, such as have been indicated by my hon.
Friend below the Gangway, have to be made here at home.
In this crisis I hope I may be pardoned if I do not address the House at any length to-day. I hope that any
of my friends and colleagues, or former colleagues, who are affected by the political reconstruction, will
make allowance, all allowance, for any lack of ceremony with which it has been necessary to act. I would
say to the House, as I said to those who have joined this Government: "I have nothing to offer but blood,
toil, tears and sweat."
We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many long months of
struggle and of suffering. You ask, what is our policy? I will say: It is to wage war, by sea, land and air, with
all our might and with all the strength that God can give us; to wage war against a monstrous tyranny
never surpassed in the dark, lamentable catalogue of human crime. That is our policy.
