丘吉尔在二战初期危难之际就任首相后首次在国会发表的演说

邱吉尔在二战初期危难之际就任首相后首次在国会发表的演说

背景：

9月1日早晨，战争爆发后的数小时，张伯伦召见丘吉尔，邀请他加入战时内阁。9月3日，丘吉尔被重新任命为海军大臣。由于战事进展不顺利，下院议员们在1940年5月对张伯伦政府提出不信任动议案，将矛头指向张伯伦。5月8日，张伯伦政府仅以81票的多数获得信任案，但是张伯伦感到他无法继续执政，因此准备组建联合政府，并让出首相位置。他原本希望由外交大臣、绥靖政策的积极贯彻者哈利法克斯勋爵接任，但是无法得到丘吉尔的支持。张伯伦十分清楚，一旦丘吉尔离开内阁就要垮台。此外工党也向张伯伦施严，十分明确地向他表明，工党将不会再支持由张伯伦或其亲信所领导的内阁。于是张伯伦只得向国王提出辞呈，并建议由丘吉尔组阁。

5月10日下午6时，国王召见丘吉尔，令其组阁；一小时后丘吉尔会见工党领袖艾德礼，邀请工党加入内阁并获得支持。3天后丘吉尔首次以首相身份出席下议院会议，发表了著名的讲话：“我没有别的，只有热血、辛劳、眼泪和汗水献给大家……你们问：我们的目的是什么？我可以用一个词来答复：胜利，不惜一切代价的胜利，无论多么恐怖也要争取胜利，无论道路多么遥远艰难，也要争取胜利，因为没有胜利就无法生存。”下议院最终以381票对0票的绝对优势表明了对丘吉尔政府的支持。

May 13, 1940

to House of Commons

Blood,Sweat and Tears－热血,汗水和眼泪

First Speech as Prime Minister

May 13, 1940

to House of Commons

On Friday evening last I received from His Majesty the mission to form a new administration.

It was the evident will of Parliament and the nation that this should be conceived on the broadest possible basis and that it should include all parties.

I have already completed the most important part of this task. A war cabinet has been formed of five members, representing, with the Labor, Opposition and Liberals, the unity of the nation.

It was necessary that this should be done in one single day on account of the extreme urgency and rigor of events. Other key positions were filled yesterday. I am submitting a further list to the King tonight. I hope to complete the appointment of principal Ministers during tomorrow.

The appointment of other Ministers usually takes a little longer. I trust 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 to the Speaker that the House should be summoned today. At the end of today…s proceedings, the adjournment of the House will be proposed until May 2l with provision for earlier meeting if need be. Business for that will be notified to M. P. ‟s at the earliest opportunity.

I now invite the House by a resolution to record its approval of the steps taken and declare its confidence in the new government. The resolution:

"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."

To form an administration of this scale and complexity is a serious undertaking in itself. But we are in the preliminary Phase of one of the greatest battles in history. We are in action at any other points-in Norway and in Holland-and we have to be prepared in the Mediterranean. The air battle is continuing, and many preparations have to be made here at home.

In this crisis I think I may be pardoned if I do not address the House at any length today, and I hope that any of my friends and colleagues or former colleagues who are affected by the political reconstruction will make all allowances for any lack of ceremony with which it has been necessary to act.