The Night Churchill
Almost Gave Up the War
Here is the little-known story
of how "the greatest speech
since the Gettysburg Address"
grew out of deep despair
By STANLEY LOVELL
At breakfast maybe our last at free men
was glum, but Churchill ate heartily.
I have heard many fascinating stories about
Sir Winston Churchill, but none is more moving
than the one that was told me to years ago by a
distinguished soldier who was closely associated
with Churchill in Britain's darkest days.
At the time, I was Director of Research and
Development for America's Office of Strategic
Services (OSS), and the occasion was an intimate
birthday luncheon for Sir John G. Dill, Chief of
the British Imperial General Staff.
After liqueurs, someone said: "Sir John, I
think you owe us a story. What has been the most
unforgettable day of your career?"
"That is easy to select," he answered and then
went on to tell the following story.
MY career appeared ended when I
publicly opposed the remilitariza
tion of the Rhineland and Chamber
lain's appeasement at Munich. Then, in
May, 1940, Winston Churchill came to
power and picked me to head up our
armed forces.
Barely three weeks later he phoned me to fly
to France with him and General Ismay. We knew
things were in poor shape over there. In Paris
we met with the French leaders, Marshal Petain,
General Weygand, and Premier Paul Reynaud.
They threw the bad news at us.
Churchill asked: "Aren't you going to resist
in the South of France?"
"No. It's impossible."
"But you'll keep the African colonies and fight
from there, won't you ?"
"No. We surrender them."
"But the fleet Darlan will put to sea and
deliver it to us that will be saved?"
"No. It's complete surrender to Hitler. After
the way you British abandoned us by running
home at Dunkirk, you left us no other choice."
"So France is deserting us completely!"
Churchill exclaimed.
"Just as you did to us," answered Petain.
The Prime Minister rose. We were driven to
our plane and flown back to London. Not a
single word was spoken on the return flight, and
I was too deeply upset to care much if our escort
of Hurricanes showed up or not.
"I'm all alone tonight," Churchill said to me.
"Come keep me company at 10 Downing Street."
It was late, and we washed a sandwich down with
some brandy and soda.
"Sir John," he said as he walked about the
room, "I have no choice but to address Parliament
in the morning. I'll have to tell them and the
nation that France has gone over to Hitler, lock,
stock, and barrel. You and I know it's impossible
to defend this island against the full force of the
Nazis. It's Napoleon all over again, but Napoleon
never had the German air force, and we have few
guns and less ammunition. This may be the last
night of the British Empire it may be."
I could have wept for him and for Britain. At
last he said: "There are two things we can do,
Sir John. Write the speech that will actually ask
Hitler for terms of surrender or go to bed and
sleep on it. I propose to Bleep. Good night, Sir
John. My man will show you to your bedroom.
See you at breakfast"
He may have slept he took a part bottle of
brandy with him but I know I didn't The end
of the British Empire was coming tomorrow I
AT breakfast perhaps our last as a free people
Xi. I was sober and glum. Winston Churchill
ate everything set before him. Finally, he pushed
his chair away at an angle and said :
"Sir John, I have to tell Parliament the bad
news I can't avoid that, but I do not have to
suggest negotiating with those Nazi madmen.
Yes, France has fallen, and the U. S. is pacifist
and won't help us, but, all alone, we'll fight 'em
on the beaches, we'll fight 'em at the hedgerows,
we'll fight 'em on our village greens!" He paused.
"By heaven, that's good, Sir John."
He pulled a pad of paper out of his breakfast
jacket pocket and started writing down the
greatest speech since the Gettysburg Address.
That gentlemen, was my most unforgettable day
a day on which the freedom of mankind had
balanced on one man's courage.
Eitorptod free me book, "Of Joiei end Itretoteml." by Stanley LeroMi 1962 by Stanley lv4l, evbllihed by Prentice-Hall, Inc., EnflwMd Cliffs, N. J.
ILLUSTRATED IT OIL WA1KEI
COVER:
H' may have budding ballerinas here as
Big Sister (who takes lessons) tries to
get her younger counterpart up on her
toes. Scene photographed by Robert Witt.
Family
Weelcly
I
February 24, 1M3
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