 After Germany 's attack on Russia in June 1941 , Lang said that the Russians must now be regarded as allies , without forgetting or condoning the excesses of the past . His relations with Winston Churchill , prime minister since May 1940 , were difficult because " he [ Churchill ] knows nothing about the Church , its life , its needs or its personnel " . There was therefore " uncertainty as to what motives or how much knowledge may determine his decisions [ on Church matters ] " . 
