"This War, No

Nation Wins"

A YOUNG American officer, talking in Glasgow, said jokingly, in the

hearing of Noel Coward, “Well, we're

here to win this war for you”

Coward was so concerned about it that he wrote a poem, “Lines to an American Officerand it was pub lished in full by the “New York Times,” in the interests of Anglo- American friendship. Here is the latter part of the poem: NOW listen —I’m a Britisher.

I know my country’s faults. Its rather slow, Superior assumptions; its aloof Conviction of its destiny. The proof Of its true quality also I know, This lies much deeper. When we stood alone, Besieged for one long, agonising year, The only bulwark in our hemisphere Defying tyranny. In this was shown The temper of our people. Don’t forget That lonely year. It isn’t lease or lend, Or armaments, or speeches that defend The principles of living. There’s no debt Between your land and mine except that year.

All our past errors, all Ou. emissive sins Must be wiped out. This war no nation wins.

Remember that when you are over here.

Also remember that the future peace For which we’re fighting cannot be maintained By wasting time contesting who has gained Which victory. When all the battles cease, Then, if we’ve learned by mutual endur ance, By dangers shared, by fighting side by side.

To understand each other, then we’ll forge a pride, Not in ourselves, but in our joint assur ance To the whole world, when all the earnage ends.

That men can still be free and still be friends.