Cantuar & Commissars

"There were many to whom any definite alliance with the Soviet Government brought not unnatural misgivings. It may seem strange to combine alliance with Bolshevist Russia with the claim that we are contending for a Christian civilization. But such misgivings are really misplaced."

With these words the Church of England last week set at rest the souls of any of its communicants who were bothered about Britain's alliance with the U.S.S.R. They were written by the Most Rev. and Rt. Hon. Cosmo Gordon Lang, 76, Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of All England. Cosmo Gordon Lang has often denounced the "anti-God atheism of Moscow" and he helped maneuver his King into abdicating rather than permit a divorced woman to sit on the throne of England. But Cosmo Cantuar is a shrewd politician. When compromise is expedient he does not flinch from it and he can always find good reasons for his action. His reasons last week:

1) "The first and essential aim of the whole widespread struggle is to overthrow the tyranny of evil embodied in the rulers of Germany, and all who are engaged in the cause must needs be our allies."

2) "The victory of the Nazi power would destroy any kind of tolerable form of human government."

3) "Russia is but the latest country suffering unprovoked attack by Nazi Germany; it is contending for the principles of national freedom and independence for which the British Commonwealth and the United States of America are standing."

4) "It may well be that Russia's defense of its own land and the new unity which this will bring may lead to a new

tolerance of religion by the Soviet Government and a new resurgence of the . . . religion always deep-seated in the heart of the Russian people. It is significant that on the outbreak of the war thousands flocked to the churches for prayer in Moscow and elsewhere.

"We must therefore wish every success to the valiant Russian armies and people in their struggle and be ready to give them every possible help."

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