喬治六世: 宣戰演說

In this grave hour, perhaps the most fateful in history, I send to every household of my peoples, both at home and overseas, this message, spoken with the same depth of feeling for each one of you as if I were able to cross your threshold and speak to you myself.

For the second time in the lives of most of us, we are at war.

Over and over again, we have tried to find a peaceful way out of the differences between ourselves and those who are now our enemies; but it has been in vain.

We have been forced into a conflict, for which we are called, with our allies to meet the challenge of a principle which, if it were to prevail, would be fatal to any civilized order in the world.

It is a principle which permits a state in the selfish pursuit of power to disregard its treaties and its solemn pledges, which sanctions the use of force or threat of force against the sovereignty and independence of other states.

Such a principle, stripped of all disguise, is surely the mere primitive doctrine that might is right, and if this principle were established through the world, the freedom of our own country and of the whole British Commonwealth of nations would be in danger.

But far more than this, the peoples of the world would be kept in bondage of fear, and all hopes of settled peace and of security, of justice and liberty, among nations, would be ended.

This is the ultimate issue which confronts us. For the sake of all that we ourselves hold dear, and of the world order and peace, it is unthinkable that we should refuse to meet the challenge.

It is to this high purpose that I now call my people at home and my peoples across the seas, who will make our cause their own.

I ask them to stand calm and firm and united in this time of trial.

The task will be hard. There may be dark days ahead, and war can no longer be confined to the battlefield, but we can only do the right as we see the right, and reverently commit our cause to God. If one and all we keep resolutely faithful to it, ready for whatever service or sacrifice it may demand, then with God's help, we shall prevail.

 

在這個沉重的時刻，或許是有史以來最重要的時刻，

我要對所有的群眾、家庭說，

無論你們身在國內還是國外，

這次的演講，是懷著和你們一樣沉重的心情，

我希望能感同身受，說出這些。

對於大多數的我們來說，這已經是第二次了，

我們即將面對戰爭。

一次又一次地，我們總是在尋找我們與敵人的不同和和平解決的方法。

但這似乎徒勞無功，我們被迫捲入一場戰爭，

我們和同盟國都受到了挑戰，

一旦戰爭發生，這會對世界上所有的文明產生致命的打擊!!!

這些所謂的戰爭理念，除去了偽裝以後，

僅僅只是很低級的信條，有可能有道理。

為了我們所有人，如果我們拒絕接受這個挑戰，是違背道義的!

出於這個神聖的目的，我向我的國民說，還有國外的同胞，

我們要共同作戰!!!

我需要你們冷靜、堅強地團結起來，面對這次考驗!!!

任務或許很艱巨，我們面前或許有無盡的黑夜，

戰爭也不僅僅發生於戰場，

但我們只有認清正義，才能維護正義，

虔誠地向上帝懺悔，

如果我們堅信這一點，那麼，有上帝的協助，

我們一定會勝利。