“However, in a great number of countries, far from the Russian frontiers and throughout the world, Communist fifth columns are established and work in complete unity and absolute obedience to the directions they receive from the Communist center. Except in the British Commonwealth and in the United States where Communism is in its infancy”
Oh, but how it would grow, Winston. How it would grow...
If memory serves me correctly, Churchill got heavily criticized by Eleanor Roosevelt and other libs for this speech. He was certainly wiser than they were.
“From what I have seen of our Russian friends and Allies during the war, I am convinced that there is nothing for which they have less respect than for weakness, especially military weakness. For that reason the old doctrine of a balance of power is unsound. We cannot afford, if we can help it, to work on narrow margins, offering temptations to a trial of strength. If the Western Democracies stand together in strict adherence to the principles will be immense and no one is likely to molest them. If however they become divided of falter in their duty and if these all-important years are allowed to slip away then indeed catastrophe may overwhelm us all. “
Indeed
bfl
Churchill presented a John Findley Green lecture at Westminster. Forty-six years later the Green lecturer was Mikhail Gorbachev.