May I briefly join Manfred Wörnerthe Secretary General in welcoming you to the NATO Summit in London. We are at a turning point in Europe's history, a turning point which is as full of promise as was 1919 and 1945. And we know that it is the existence of NATO and its sure defence which have helped to change the direction of Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union from the diktat of government towards the democracy of the people.
NATO has defended peace with freedom and justice but it has never threatened anyone. The cornerstones of that sure defence must remain, for we do not know what the future holds, but its architecture may change in the new situation.
Recently I was re-reading two books in preparation for this Summit. One was Cap Weinberger 's Fighting for Peace, and we owe him so much for his stewardship of the Ministry of Defence in the United States. And he told us of the unpreparedness when he was called to serve his country at the beginning of the last War. That must never happen again, our signal from this meeting must continue to be one of resolve in defence, resolve and unity in defence, coupled with willingness to extend the hand of friendship to Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. [end p1]
In the last twenty-four hours I have received a message from President Gorbachev and President Havel who are as interested in the result of this Summit as we are here who attend it.
This century has been marked by war and suffering and on an unparalleled scale. Nevertheless, in its closing decade we are seeing new hope and new aspirations about the world.
The other book that I looked at was one called Barbarossa, telling of one of the most terrible and lengthy battles in history. But at the beginning Alan Clarkthe author prefaced his work with this short verse:
“Two things have altered not
since first the world began,
the beauty of the wild green earth
and the bravery of man.”
It is our task to see that that bravery is turned to the purposes of peace and not to the battles of war. I bid you welcome and wish us all success in the message we shall give to the waiting world.