Archived papers reveal Queen’s ‘World War Three’ speech 檔案文件揭露女王的「第三次世界大戰」演說

Archived papers reveal Queen’s ‘World War Three’ speech

檔案文件揭露女王的「第三次世界大戰」演說

2013-10-04◎張沛元

Relations between the Soviet Union and the West had become so tense 30 years ago that British officials drew up a speech for the Queen to deliver to the nation in the event of a nuclear war, newly released archives showed.

30年前的蘇聯與西方的關係曾如此緊張，以致英國官員草擬一份演講稿，好讓女王在核戰爆發時向全國發表，新公布的檔案顯示。

In the speech, the monarch was to urge Britons to remain united and resolute in the face of the "madness of war."

在演說中，女王呼籲英國人在面臨「戰爭的瘋狂」時，維持團結與不屈不撓。

Written by government officials, the hypothetical speech was part of a secret exercise designed to prepare Britain for the threat of a possible World War Three, but was never broadcast.

這篇由政府官員撰寫的假設性演說，是以讓英國人為可能發生的第三次世界大戰做好準備的秘密演習的一部分，但從未對外播放。

"The horrors of war could not have seemed more remote as my family and I shared our Christmas joy with the growing family of the Commonwealth," she was to have said.

「當我的家人與我跟與日俱增的大英國協家庭分享耶誕喜悅之際，戰爭的恐怖可能已不再遙不可及」，女王原本應該這麼說。

"Now, this madness of war is once more spreading through the world and our brave country must again prepare itself to survive against great odds." （Reuters）

「而今，戰爭的瘋狂再次擴散到全世界，我們勇敢的國家必須再次為克服萬難求生做好準備。」（路透）

新聞辭典：

l   draw up：慣用語，起草、制定。例句：He has drawn up his retirement plan.（他已擬妥退休計畫。）

l   in the face of something：慣用語，受到某事威脅，儘管要面對艱困處境或難題。例句：She left home in the face of strong opposition from her parents.（儘管面臨雙親強烈反對，她還是離家了。）

l   against all/great odds：（儘管）極為不利、可能性低或幾乎不可能，有排除萬難且最後成功之意。例句：Against all odds, the actress conceived her first child at the age of 48.（那名女星排除萬難，在48歲時懷上第一胎。）