"enediNumber 112* Autumn 2001ISSN 0882-3715www.winstonchurchill.orgBarbara F. Langworth, Publisher(b_langworth@conknet.com)Richard M. Langworth, Editor(malakand@conknet.com)PO Box 385, Contoocook,NH 03229 USATel. (603) 746-4433Fax. (603) 746-4260• Address changes. USA: send tothe business <strong>of</strong>fice <strong>of</strong> The <strong>Churchill</strong>Center. UK, Canada & Australia:send to ICS business <strong>of</strong>fices.All <strong>of</strong>fices <strong>are</strong> listed on page 2.Senior Editors:Ron Cynewulf RobbinsJohn G. PlumptonAssociate Editor:Paul H. CourtenayNews Editor: John FrostFeatures Editor: Douglas J. Hallits*ContributorsGeorge Richard, Australia;Randy Barber, Chris Bell,Barry Gough, Canada;Inder Dan Ratnu, India;Paul Addison, David Boler,<strong>Winston</strong> S. <strong>Churchill</strong>,Sir Martin Gilbert, Allen Packwood,Phil Reed, United King<strong>do</strong>m;Chris Hanger, Chris Harmon,Warren F. Kimball, Cyril Mazansky,Michael McMenamin,James W. Muller, Mark Weber,Manfred Weidhorn, Curt Zoller,United StatesFinest Hour is made possible in part throughthe generous support <strong>of</strong> members <strong>of</strong> The<strong>Churchill</strong> Center and Societies, and with theassistance <strong>of</strong> an en<strong>do</strong>wment cfeated by The<strong>Churchill</strong> Center Associates (listed on page 2).Finest Hour is published quarterly by The<strong>Churchill</strong> Center and International <strong>Churchill</strong>Societies, which <strong>of</strong>fer various levels <strong>of</strong> supportin their respective currencies. Membershipapplications should be sent to the approptiate<strong>of</strong>fices on page 2. Permission to mail at nonpr<strong>of</strong>itrates in USA granted by the UnitedStates Postal Service, Concord, NH, permitno. 1524. Copyright 2001. All rights reserved.Designed and edited by DragonwyckPublishing Inc. Production by New EnglandFoil Stamping Inc. Printed by ReprographicsInc. Made in U.S.A.ABOARD DDG81Greetings from aboard USS <strong>Winston</strong> S.<strong>Churchill</strong>, in the Western Approaches <strong>of</strong> theEnglish Channel. We have calm seas, the sun isshining and <strong>we</strong> <strong>are</strong> engaged in a training exercisewith the Royal Navy. We <strong>are</strong> 48 hours out <strong>of</strong>Portsmouth, where the ship had a rapturous<strong>we</strong>lcome—the lines <strong>of</strong> people waiting to comeaboard <strong>we</strong>re three hours long! She was the star <strong>of</strong>the Festival <strong>of</strong> the Sea. We <strong>are</strong> about to arrive inPlymouth, the home port <strong>of</strong> Sir Francis Drake.She is a great ship, with a fine Commander,Mike Franken, and a magnificent crew. As youcan imagine, I am loving every minute and, d<strong>are</strong>I say it, bursting with pride that such a fine shipshould bear my Grandfather's name.WINSTON S. CHURCHILL, 27AUG01ATROCITIES IN 1919In FH 110:4, F. Y. Gabriel asks why<strong>Churchill</strong> didn't protest against the mass slaughter<strong>of</strong> Jews by the White Russians in 1919. Theshort ans<strong>we</strong>r to that question may be found intwo paragraphs in my article, "<strong>Churchill</strong> and theJews," published in the May/June 1999 issue <strong>of</strong>Midstream, bimonthly <strong>of</strong> the Theo<strong>do</strong>r HerzlFoundation. More details <strong>are</strong> in Martin Gilbert's<strong>Winston</strong> S. <strong>Churchill</strong>, Vol. IV, pages 338-44.DR. M. DONALD COLEMAN, MAMARONECK, NYFROM DR. COLEMAN'S ARTICLESpearheading Britain's near state <strong>of</strong> waragainst the Bolshevik revolution in Russia,<strong>Churchill</strong> saw the Reds as largely led by bloodthirstyJews, who, in their revenge for past antisemitism,aimed to destroy all civil society. Bolshevikbrutality was undeniable, and while theBolsheviks certainly <strong>we</strong>re not all Jews, a disproportionatenumber <strong>we</strong>re. Among White Russians,virulent antisemitism needed little realcause to descend to brutal pogroms. In southernRussia, it is believed that over 100,000 Jews perishedfollowing the White Russian advance.Some <strong>of</strong> <strong>Churchill</strong>'s utterances crossed overinto an antisemitic vein: "The Bolsheviks <strong>are</strong>not fools. Whoever said <strong>they</strong> <strong>we</strong>re? These Semiticconspirators <strong>are</strong> among the highest politicalintelligence in the world and implacably devotedto its destruction." He also referred to theSoviet government as "the tyrannic Government<strong>of</strong> these Jew Commissars."But despite <strong>Churchill</strong>'s intense feelings inwhich "Bolshevik" and "Jew" became almost interchangeable,he warned White Russian generalDeniken to prevent pogroms against "innocentJews" or else he would lose British backing.<strong>Churchill</strong>'s Bolshevik-Jew conflation during thisperiod fell away when his responsibilities as ministerfor war ended in 1921. He did not followthe path <strong>of</strong> many others who permitted observationsabout Jews and their over-representation inthe Communist movement to feed into preexistingpersonal prejudices. For <strong>Churchill</strong>, the basicfoundation for this prejudice did not exist.DESPATCH BOXEXCERPTS FROMWINSTONS. CHURCHILL,VOL. IVWSC to Gen. Harington, Deputy Chief, ImperialGeneral Staff, 2 June 1919:"Any force wh <strong>we</strong> support even indirectlymust proceed according to the laws & customs<strong>of</strong> war & be guided by humane considerations....Wholesaleexecutions <strong>are</strong> unpar<strong>do</strong>nableon political as <strong>we</strong>ll as on moral grounds." (293)WSC to Gen. Gough, Commander, British militarymission to the Baltic, 6June 1919:"Excesses by anti-Bolsheviks if <strong>they</strong> <strong>are</strong> victoriouswill alienate sympathies British nationand render continuance <strong>of</strong> support most difficult....Youshould press for fair public trial <strong>of</strong> allculprits and stringent orders against terrorismand indiscriminate shooting." (293)WSC to Gen. Holman, Commander, military missionto South Russia, 18 September 1919:"[Urge Gen. Deniken] to <strong>do</strong> everything inhis po<strong>we</strong>r to prevent a massacre <strong>of</strong> the Jews inthe liberated districts [and to issue] a proclamationagainst antisemitism." (330)WSC to Lloyd George, 20 October 1919:"There is very bitter feeling throughoutRussia against the Jews, who <strong>are</strong> regarded asbeing the main instigators <strong>of</strong> the ruin <strong>of</strong> the[Russian] Empire, and who, certainly, haveplayed a leading part in Bolshevikatrocities....This feeling is sh<strong>are</strong>d by the VolunteerArmy and the Army <strong>of</strong> the Don under GeneralDeniken....I have repeatedly urged him tomake my task easier by proving his capacity torestrain his troops and have received from himsolemn assurances....By continuing to supplyGeneral Deniken <strong>we</strong> shall be constantly in a positionto exercise a modifying influence uponwhat <strong>are</strong>, after all, some <strong>of</strong> the most terrible hatredswhich have ever afflicted man<strong>kind</strong>. By cuttingourselves adrift <strong>we</strong> should lose all po<strong>we</strong>r toinfluence events either in the direction <strong>of</strong> mercyor democracy." {Companion Part 2: 912)WSC to Gen. Deniken, 20 October 1919:"Your Excellency, I know, will realise thevital importance at this time, when such brilliantresults <strong>are</strong> being secured, <strong>of</strong> preventing byevery possible means the ill-treatment <strong>of</strong> the innocentJewish population." (343)WSC to the Cabinet, 21 October 1919:(Memo to British military mission commander)"Everything will be <strong>do</strong>ne by Gen. Hakingto prevent indiscriminate or wholesale executions.Even the worst criminals <strong>are</strong> entitled to atrial. Above all, anything in the nature <strong>of</strong> a Jewishpogrom would <strong>do</strong> immense harm to theRussian cause. All the influence <strong>of</strong> the Britishrepresentative will be used in securing the safety<strong>of</strong> innocent Jews...." {Companion Part 2: 934) k>FINEST HOUR 112/4
DATELINESQUOTATION OF THE SEASON"I <strong>do</strong> not grudge our loyal, brave people, wko <strong>we</strong>re ready to <strong>do</strong> tkeir duty no matter wkat tkecost, wko never flincked under tke strain <strong>of</strong> last <strong>we</strong>ek...kut tkey skould know tke trutk.Tkey skould know tkat tkere kas been gross neglect and deficiency in our defences.Tkey skould know tkat <strong>we</strong> kave sustained a defeat witkout a war, tke consequences <strong>of</strong> wkick willtravel far witk us along our road. Tkey skould know tkat <strong>we</strong> kave passed an awful milestone inour kistory...and tkat terrikle words kave for tke time keing keen pronounced against tke Westerndemocracies: 'Thou art <strong>we</strong>igked in tke kalance and found wanting.'And <strong>do</strong> not suppose tkat tkis is tke end. Tkis is only tke beginning <strong>of</strong> tke reckoning.Tkis is only tke first sip, tke first foretaste <strong>of</strong> a bitter cup, wkick will ke pr<strong>of</strong>fered to usyear by year unless by a supreme recovery ot moral healtrT a:nd martial vigte<strong>we</strong> arise again and take our stand for free<strong>do</strong>m, as in tke olden ti—VC'SC, HOUSE OF COMMONS, 5 OCTOBER ]93811 September 2001The PresidentThe White House, WashingtonDear Mr. President,The prayers <strong>of</strong> thousands <strong>of</strong> members<strong>of</strong> The <strong>Churchill</strong> Center and Societiesthroughout the world <strong>are</strong> with youand your administration at this time.In your own speeches you said thatLo<strong>we</strong>r Manhattan, 10 September 2001"just as <strong>Churchill</strong> defined the moral issues<strong>of</strong> the 1930s and 1940s, he also definedthe great moral challenge up toour own times." It is our fervent wishthat the words and actions <strong>of</strong> Sir <strong>Winston</strong><strong>Churchill</strong>, whose bust observesyour deliberations in the Oval Office,will provide comfort and inspiration.Commanders cannot know outcomes—onlychoices. But these words<strong>of</strong> Sir <strong>Winston</strong> provide a beacon formaking those choices.• "The price <strong>of</strong> greatness is responsibility.One cannot rise to be in many waysthe leading community in the civilizedworld without being involved in its problems,without being convulsed by its orcontinue<strong>do</strong>verleafFINEST HOUR 112/5
Change language