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2.

But today there is one subject of profound topical
interest on which a Governor General is permitted to speak freely.
It is the question of the war. He is at liberty to speak because
whatever may be our differences of view on the incidents which
led up to the war I fancy there is very little difference of
opinion on the necessity of winning that war. Now that we are
in it we have to see it through. The issues have clarified
themselves into something very simple which anyone can understand.
We and our Allies are fighting to restore decency and order to
the world. If we were defeated it would mean the loss in life
of most things that we hold dear. But we are not going to be
defeated.

To win we must have the determination to win. We must
have courage, and we must have hope. We must keep a stout heart.
That applies not only to our armed forces, but to every man, woman
and child in this Dominion. In old days war was a contest of
armies and navies. Today it is a contest of peoples. In the last
war it was the break-down of Germany's national morale which led
to her defeat. In this war it is the maintenance of our national
morale, our civilian morale, which will bring us victory. I
remember in the last war a famous French general who, whenever he
prophesied ultimate victory, always added, "Provided the civilians
stick it out" - Pourvu que les civiles tiennent.

So this afternoon I want to offer you a few reflections
which should conduce, I think, to stoutness of heart and