MILITARY REVERSES
BRITAIN EMBATTLED
If Churchill's Britain was embattled it wasn't necessarily the Germans who
stood at the battlements. Perfidious Albion was forever turning his blind
side to the fate of rebellious natives who were far more concerned about
British aggression and occupation.
The British occupied Near East then as now was in flames. Since 1936 there
had been three bloodthirsty conflicts between the Palestinians and their
Jewish tormentors. India was increasingly restless and pressing for an early
release from British occupation. The Japanese would soon enjoy great success
in winning Indian hearts and minds.
In the first week of May 1942 the All-India Congress voted 176-4 to meet the
threatened Japanese invasion with passive resistance. As usual such
democracy in action wasn't to Churchill's taste. Whereas the media was
always generous with news of German acts of repression it conveniently
overlooked the anti-British riots of 1942 when over 400 Indians were cut
down or injured.
There were disturbances in the West Indies that needed to be ruthlessly
suppressed and in Ireland there was so much anti-British activity that
German provocation was (wrongly) assumed to be behind it. In fact the Irish
Troubles had been around for much longer than the newcomer on Britain's
other flank
Note to ponder: Since the forced marriage (Legislative Union) between
Britain and Ireland had taken place in 1801 the emerald isle had 'enjoyed'
fifty-six years of martial law.