Mr Speaker Albert, Senator Mansfield, members of the delegation of the [? Congress: word illegible] of the United States of America, my Donald CogganLord Archbishop, James CallaghanPrime Minister, colleagues and most welcome distinguished guests.
There are many people in Britain who would like to have the opportunity of speaking today.
They would like to make a clear declaration of their affection for the United States of America and her democracy, their pride in her achievements and their recognition of her responsibilities. [end p1]
We, the representatives of the peoples of the United Kingdom, can be their witness and at the same time express our own feelings of friendship and admiration.
What has characterised the relationship between our two countries over these last two centuries has been the mutual understanding of our common interests and our ability to overcome our differences.
In 1776, the great separation occurred, saddening many people on both sides of the Atlantic. [end p2]
The House of Commons, of course, kept things in perspective.
I have looked up the record of our proceedings for May 26th 1776 and I find that Parliament very sensibly prorogued itself and went on holiday on the 23rd—it's final business being not Boston but higher tolls for heavy vehicles on the turnpikes, better pensions for Royal Navy widows and an Act to dissolve the marriage of one Rv. John Jenkins, Clerk, and to enable him to marry again. [end p3]
It is true Mr Speaker that on the Motion for the Adjournment there was complaint about the failure of the then Government to provide the House with more information about “matters and transactions in the American plantations” and one wise Member suggested that “the anxious and important year of 1776” may probably be decisive to the future union and well-being of all His Majesty's dominions. A sentence with which, two hundred years later, we can all agree. [end p4]
Since then the history of our relationship has ebbed and flowed. Yet the underlying spirit of friendship has prevailed.
Nurtured in the same language and culture, having the same democratic values bred into our bones, sharing our memories of the same battles for freedom, neither time nor circumstance can stale what Mr Churchill called “our perfect understanding” . [end p5]
Today we remember that we were both Heirs of Runnymede and we honour the great democracy you have built in pursuit of the liberty and happiness of your people. [end p6]
The concluding phrases of the Gettysburg address:-
“that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth” express the ideal we both share.
But the pressures of peace can be as testing as the perils of war. They do not have the same drama, nor the same horrors. [end p7]
But they can wear down the strongest resistance, inducing uncertainty, hesitation—and sometimes even fear.
This is a day for saluting the American people.
We hope that, whatever trials the future holds, we shall face them together, part of a world-wide alliance of free peoples and nations.