Staring at God

by Simon Heffer

  M&B: Baldwin: A Biography, by Keith Middlemas and John Barnes (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1969.

  Martel: The Month that Changed the World: July 1914, by Gordon Martel (Oxford University Press, 2014).

  Maurice: The Maurice Case: from the Papers of Sir Frederick Maurice KCMG, CB, edited by Nancy Maurice (Leo Cooper, 1972).

  McKibbin: The Evolution of the Labour Party 1910–1924, by Ross McKibbin (Clarendon Press, 1974).

  McKinstry: Rosebery: Statesman in Turmoil, by Leo McKinstry (John Murray, 2005).

  Meleady: John Redmond: The National Leader, by Dermot Meleady (Merrion, 2014).

  Midleton: Records and Reactions 1856–1939, by the Earl of Midleton, KP (John Murray, 1939).

  Morley: Memorandum on Resignation, August 1914, by John, Viscount Morley (Macmillan, 1928).

  Morley G.: The Life of William Ewart Gladstone, by John Morley (Macmillan, 2 vol. edition, 1905).

  Morrell I: Ottoline: The Early Memoirs of Ottoline Morrell, edited by Robert Gathorne-Hardy (Faber & Faber, 1963).

  Morrell II: Ottoline at Garsington: Memoirs of Lady Ottoline Morrell, edited by Robert Gathorne-Hardy (Faber & Faber, 1974).

  Newton: Lord Lansdowne: A Biography, by Lord Newton (Macmillan, 1929).

  Nicolson I: Sir Arthur Nicolson, Bart, First Lord Carnock: A Study in the Old Diplomacy, by Harold Nicolson (Constable, 1930).

  Nicolson II: King George V: His Life and Reign, by Harold Nicolson (Constable, 1952).

  O’Brien: Milner: Viscount Milner of St James’s and Cape Town, 1854–1925, by Terence H. O’Brien (Constable, 1979).

  OFMH: Why We Are At War: Great Britain’s Case, by Members of the Oxford Faculty of Modern History (Clarendon Press, 3rd edition, 1914).

  P&H: Northcliffe, by Reginald Pound and Geoffrey Harmsworth (Cassell, 1959).

  Parker: The Old Lie: The Great War and the Public School Ethos, by Peter Parker (Hambledon Continuum, 2007).

  Parry: College Addresses, Delivered to Pupils of the Royal College of Music, by Sir C. Hubert H. Parry, Bart, edited by H. C. Coles (Macmillan, 1920).

  Petrie: The Life and Letters of the Right Hon. Sir Austen Chamberlain KG, PC, MP, by Sir Charles Petrie, Bt (Cassell, 2 vols, 1939–40).

  Petrie, CT: The Chamberlain Tradition, by Sir Charles Petrie, Bt (Lovat Dickinson, 1938).

  Pollock: Kitchener, by John Pollock (Constable, 2001).

  Ponsonby: Falsehood in War-Time: An amazing collection of carefully documented lies circulated in Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy and America during the Great War, by Arthur Ponsonby MP (George Allen & Unwin, 1928).

  Pope-Hennessy: Queen Mary: 1867–1953, by James Pope-Hennessy (George Allen & Unwin, 1959).

  Postgate: The Life of George Lansbury, by Raymond Postgate (Longmans, Green & Company, 1951).

  Repington: The First World War 1914–1918: Personal Experiences of Lieut Col C. à Court Repington, CMG (Constable, 2 vols, 1920).

  Renwick: Bread for All: The Origins of the Welfare State, by Chris Renwick (Allen Lane, 2017).

  Riddell: Lord Riddell’s War Diary 1914–1918, by George Riddell (Ivor Nicholson & Watson, 1933).

  Robertson: Soldiers and Statesmen 1914–1918, by Field Marshal Sir William Robertson, Bart (Cassell, 2 vols, 1926).

  Ronaldshay: The Life of Lord Curzon: Being the Authorized Biography of George Nathaniel, Marquess Curzon of Kedleston, KG, by the Rt Hon. the Earl of Ronaldshay (Ernest Benn, 3 vols, 1928).

  Rose I: The Later Cecils, by Kenneth Rose (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1975).

  Rose II: King George V, by Kenneth Rose (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1983).

  Roskill: Hankey: Man of Secrets, by Stephen Roskill (Collins, 3 vols, 1970–74).

  RRJ: Churchill: A Study in Failure 1900–1939, by Robert Rhodes James (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1970).

  Russell: The Autobiography of Bertrand Russell (George Allen & Unwin, 3 vols, 1967–69).

  S&A: Life of Herbert Henry Asquith, Lord Oxford and Asquith, by J. A. Spender and Cyril Asquith (Hutchinson, 2 vols, 1932).

  S&W: Public Schools and the Great War: The Generation Lost, by Anthony Seldon and David Walsh (Pen & Sword, 2013).

  Samuel: Memoirs, by the Rt Hon. Viscount Samuel (The Cresset Press, 1945).

  Scott: The Political Diaries of C. P. Scott, 1911–1928, edited by Trevor Wilson (Collins, 1970).

  Searle: Corruption in British Politics, 1895–1930, by G. R. Searle (The Clarendon Press, 1987).

  Simon: Retrospect: The Memoirs of the Rt Hon. Viscount Simon GCSI, GCVO (Hutchinson, 1952).

  Sommer: Haldane of Cloan: His Life and Times 1856–1928, by Dudley Sommer (George Allen & Unwin, 1960).

  Souhami: Edith Cavell, by Diana Souhami (Quercus, 2010).

  Steed: Through Thirty Years, 1892–1922: A Personal Narrative, by Henry Wickham Steed (Heinemann, 2 vols, 1924).

  Stevenson I: With Our Backs to the Wall: Victory and Defeat in 1918, by David Stevenson (Allen Lane, 2011).

  Stevenson II: 1917: War, Peace and Revolution, by David Stevenson (Oxford University Press, 2017).

  Stevenson F.: Lloyd George: A Diary, by Frances Stevenson, edited by A. J. P. Taylor (Hutchinson, 1971).

  Strachan: The First World War: Volume I: To Arms, by Hew Strachan (Oxford University Press, 2001).

  Taylor I: English History 1914–1945, by A. J. P Taylor (Oxford University Press, 1965).

  Taylor II: Beaverbrook, by A. J. P. Taylor (Hamish Hamilton, 1972).

  Taylor F.: The Downfall of Money: Germany’s Hyperinflation and the Destruction of the Middle Class, by Frederick Taylor (Bloomsbury, 2013).

  Thompson I: Northcliffe: Press Baron in Politics, 1865–1922, by J. Lee Thompson (John Murray, 2000).

  Thompson II: Politicians, the Press and Propaganda: Lord Northcliffe and the Great War, 1914–1919, by J. Lee Thompson (Kent State University Press, 1999).

  Townshend I: Easter 1916: The Irish Rebellion, by Charles Townshend (Allen Lane, 2005).

  Townshend II: The Republic: The Fight for Irish Independence 1918–1923, by Charles Townshend (Allen Lane, 2013).

  Trevelyan: Grey of Fallodon: Being the Life of Sir Edward Grey, Afterwards Viscount Grey of Fallodon, by George Macaulay Trevelyan, OM (Longmans, Green & Co., 1937).

  VBC: Champion Redoubtable: The Diaries and Letters of Violet Bonham Carter, 1914–1945, edited by Mark Pottle (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1998).

  Webb: The Diary of Beatrice Webb, edited by Norman and Jean Mackenzie (Virago Press, 4 vols, 1982–85).

  Wells, Britling: Mr Britling Sees it Through, by H. G. Wells (Uniform Edition, 1933).

  Wells, JP: Joan and Peter, by H. G. Wells (Cassell, 1918).

  Wilson: The Rasp of War: The Letters of H. A. Gwynne to The Countess Bathurst, 1914–1918, selected and edited by Keith Wilson (Sidgwick & Jackson, 1988).

  Young: Arthur James Balfour: The Happy Life of the Politician, Prime Minister, Statesman and Philosopher 1848–1930, by Kenneth Young (G. Bell & Sons, 1963).

  Periodicals

  Daily Mail

  The Daily Telegraph

  Lancet

  Manchester Guardian

  Spectator

  The Times

  The Times Literary Supplement

  Learned Journals

  Biography

  Britain and the World

  The English Historical Review

  The Historical Journal

  Historical Reflections

  Journal of British Studies

  Journal of Contemporary History

  Journal of Modern History

  Social Service Review

  Works of Reference

  Hansard’s Parliamentary Debates (Commons) Series 5, Volumes 64 to 117, (Lords) Series 5, Volumes 17 to 34.

  The Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford University Press, 2nd edition).

  Wisden’s Cricketers’ Almanack

  NOTES

  Chapter 1: Consequences

  1. G&T, p. 12.

  2. Ibid.

  3. RA GV/PRI
V/GVD/1914: 28 June.

  4. G&T, p. 13.

  5. The Times, 29 June 1914, p. 8.

  6. G&T, p. 28.

  7. Ibid.

  8. See Heffer, AD, p. 768ff.

  9. Hansard, Vol. 64 col. 214.

  10. Ibid., col. 215

  11. Ibid., col. 216.

  12. G&T, p. 17.

  13. Ibid., p. 15.

  14. The Times, 1 July 1914, p. 11.

  15. G&T, p. 18.

  16. Ibid., p. 19.

  17. Ibid.

  18. Ibid., p. 28.

  19. G&T, p. 21.

  20. Ibid., p. 422.

  21. Clark, p. 420.

  22. Ibid., p. 24.

  23. Ibid.

  24. Ibid., p. 25.

  25. Ibid., p. 27.

  26. Ibid., p. 30.

  27. Ibid., p. 32.

  28. Ibid., p. 34.

  29. The Times, 11 July 1914, p. 7.

  30. G&T, p. 39.

  31. Ibid., p. 40.

  32. Ibid., p. 41.

  33. The Times, 16 July 1914, p. 9.

  34. Ibid., 13 July 1914, p. 5.

  35. Ibid., 20 July 1914, p. 9.

  36. G&T, p. 45.

  37. The Times, 18 July 1914, p. 7.

  38. G&T, p. 47.

  39. Ibid., p. 49.

  40. Ibid., p. 50.

  41. The Times, 20 July 1914, p. 7.

  42. G&T, p. xi.

  43. Ibid., p. 54.

  44. Ibid.

  45. The Times, 21 July 1914, p. 7.

  46. G&T, p. 63.

  47. Ibid., p. 64.

  48. The Times, 22 July 1914, p. 7.

  49. Ibid., p. 8.

  50. Ibid., p. 9.

  51. G&T, p. 69.

  52. Ibid., p. 70.

  53. Ibid., p. 365.

  54. Ibid., p. 72.

  55. Ibid., p. 73.

  56. Ibid., p. 73.

  57. Clark, p. 456.

  58. G&T, p. 74.

  59. Asquith, II, p. 5.

  60. Clark, p. 489.

  61. Clarke, p. 117.

  62. Beaverbrook I, I, p. 31.

  63. G&T, p. 74.

  64. Ibid., p. 75.

  65. Ibid., p. 78.

  66. Ibid., p. 79.

  67. The Times, 25 July 1914, p. 10.

  68. G&T, p. 80.

  69. Ibid., p. 81.

  70. Ibid.

  71. Ibid., p. 82.

  72. Grey, II, p. 63.

  73. Ibid.

  74. G&T, p. 83.

  75. Ibid., pp. 83–84.

  76. Ibid., p. 84.

  77. Ibid., p. 85.

  78. The Times, 25 July 1914, p. 9.

  79. Ibid., p. 87.

  80. G&T, p. 86.

  81. Ibid.

  82. Ibid, p. 88.

  83. Ibid.

  84. Ibid., p. 91.

  85. Grey, I, p. 311.

  86. G&T, p. 92.

  87. Ibid., p. 93.

  88. Grey, I, pp. 312–13.

  89. See Heffer, P&P, pp. 155–66, pointing out how unwilling the Unionists at the time were to pursue the King’s policy of an understanding with France.

  90. G&T, p. 94.

  91. Ibid., p. 96.

  92. Ibid., p. 97.

  93. Ibid., p. 99.

  94. RA GV/PRIV/GVD/1914: 25 July.

  95. G&T, p. 100.

  96. Ibid., p. 102.

  97. Martel, p. 280.

  98. G&T, p. 102.

  99. Ibid., p. 104.

  100. Ensor, p. 488; G&T, p. 111.

  101. Asquith, II, p. 5.

  102. Ibid., p. 6.

  103. G&T, p. 104.

  104. Ibid., p. 107.

  105. The Times, 27 July 1914, p. 7.

  106. Hammond, p. 177.

  107. Scott, p. 91.

  108. Hansard, Vol. 65 col. 729.

  109. Ibid., cols 727–28.

  110. Hansard, Vol. 65 col. 937.

  111. Ibid., col. 938.

  112. Grey, I, p. 337.

  113. Morley, p. 1.

  114. Ibid., p. 2.

  115. Ibid., p. 3.

  116. Esher Papers: ESHR 2/13, diary entry for 17 January 1915.

  117. Scott, p. 93.

  118. Riddell, p. 1.

  119. Ibid.

  120. Ibid., p. 8.

  121. Ibid., p. 7.

  122. Ibid., p. 9.

  123. G&T, p. 118.

  124. Ibid., p. 121.

  125. Ibid.

  126. G&T, p. 123.

  127. Ibid., p. 124.

  128. Ibid.

  129. Ibid., p. 127.

  130. G&T, p. 130.

  131. Ibid., p. 133.

  132. Ibid., p. 134.

  133. Trevelyan, p. 249.

  134. Ibid.

  135. G&T, p. 138.

  136. Ibid., p. 139.

  137. Ibid., pp. 140–41.

  138. Martel, p. 281.

  139. Hansard, Vol. 65 col. 1123.

  140. Asquith, VS, p. 129.

  141. G&T, p. 155.

  142. Ibid., p. 157.

  143. G&T, p. 162.

  144. Ibid., p. 163.

  145. Ibid., p. 164.

  146. Ibid.

  147. Grey, I, p. 321.

  148. G&T, p. 169.

  149. The Times, 29 July 1914, p. 9.

  150. Haig, p. 67.

  151. G&T, p. 160.

  152. Morley, G, I, p. 976.

  153. Repington, I, p. 8.

  154. G&T, p. 170.

  155. Ibid., p. 171.

  156. Haldane, p. 270.

  157. Grey, I, p. 339.

  158. G&T, p. 180.

  159. Hansard, Vol. 65 col. 1324.

  160. The Times, 30 July 1914, p. 7.

  161. Asquith, VS, p. 133.

  162. The Times, 30 July 1914, p. 7.

  163. Asquith, II, p. 6.

  164. G&T, p. 185.

  165. Ibid., p. 194.

  166. Ibid., p. 186.

  167. Grey, I, p. 326.

  168. G&T, p. 186.

  169. The Times, 30 July 1914, p. 9.

  170. G&T, p. 193.

  171. Ibid., p. 187.

  172. Ibid., p. 198.

  173. Ibid., p. 199.

  174. Hansard, Vol. 65 col. 1574.

  175. Asquith, II, p. 7.

  176. G&T, p. 200.

  177. Ibid., p. 201.

  178. G&T, p. 202.

  179. Kynaston, p. 267.

  180. The Times, 1 August 1914, p. 8.

  181. Kynaston, p. 269.

  182. The Times, 31 July 1914, p. 9.

  183. Ibid., p. 6.

  184. Martel, p. 336.

  185. Morley, p. 4. Asquith’s catchphrase in the constitutional crisis of 1910–11 had been ‘wait and see’: see Heffer, AD, pp. 625–26.

  186. Morley, p. 5.

  187. Ibid., pp. 6–7.

  188. G&T, p. 217.

  189. Grey, I, p. 329.

  190. G&T, p. 220.

  191. Ensor, p. 493.

  192. Hansard, Vol. 65 cols 1787–88; Asquith, VS, p. 138.

  193. Grey, I, p. 332.

  194. G&T, p. 222.

  195. Ibid., p. 226.

  196. Ibid., p. 227.

  197. Asquith, VS, p. 139.

  198. G&T, p. 230.

  199. Asquith, II, p. 7.

  200. G&T, p. 235.

  201. Ibid.

  202. Ibid., p. 236.

  203. Ibid., p. 227.

  204. Ibid., p. 228.

  205. Ibid., p. 229.

  206. Ibid., p. viii.

  207. The Times, 1 August 1914, p. 6.

  208. Ibid., p. 9.

  209. RA GV/PRIV/GVD/1914: 1 August.

  210. Asquith, II, p. 7.

  211. Grey, I, p. 334.

  212. Grey, II, p. 1.

  213. Ibid., p. 10.

  214. G&T, p. 241.

  215. Ibid., p. 243.

  216. Asquith, VS, p. 140.

  217. Wilson, p. 19.

  218. The Times, 4 August 1914, p. 2.

  219. G&T, p. 253.r />
  220. Ibid., p. 260.

  221. Ibid., p. 252.

  222. Ibid., p. 259.

  223. Amery, p. 104.

  224. Lloyd Papers: GLLD 28/6, diary entry for 1 August 1914.

  225. Asquith, II, p. 7.

  226. Kerry, p. 245.

  227. PA: BL/34/3/3.

  228. Crewe Papers: Letter from Asquith to Crewe, 11 August 1918. Aspasia was the mistress of Pericles and a friend of Socrates, and reputed to be a brothel-keeper.

  229. The Times, 2 August 1914, p. 4.

  230. Ibid., p. 6.

  231. Quoted in The Times, ibid., p. 5.

  232. Lloyd Papers: GLLD 28/6, diary entry for 2 August 1914.

  233. Asquith, II, p. 8.

  234. Ibid.

  235. The Times, 3 August 1914, p. 8.

  236. Asquith, II, p. 8.

  237. Morley, p. 10.

  238. Ibid., p. 12.

  239. Ibid., p. 13.

  240. Ibid.

  241. G&T, p. 274.

  242. Morley, p. 15.

  243. Ibid., p. 18.

  244. Samuel, p. 104.

  245. The Times, 3 August 1914, p. 7.

  246. Morley, pp. 22–23.

  247. Esher Papers: ESHR 2/13, diary entry for 3 August 1914.

  248. Heffer, AD, pp. 810–16.

  249. Amery, p. 105.

  250. Morley, p. 25.

  251. Hankey, I, p. 162.

  252. Asquith, II, p. 14.

  253. Simon, p. 95.

  254. G&T, p. 290.

  255. Ibid., p. 294.

  256. Asquith, II, p. 20.

  257. The Times, 3 August 1914, p. 3.

  258. Ibid., 4 August 1914, p. 2.

  259. Grey, II, p. 14.

  260. Hansard, Vol. 65 col. 1809.

  261. Ibid., col. 1810.

  262. Ibid., col. 1816.

  263. Ibid., col. 1818.

  264. Ibid., col. 1821.

  265. Ibid., col. 1822.

  266. Ibid., col. 1823.

  267. Ibid., col. 1824.

  268. Grey, II, p. 15.

  269. Hansard, Vol. 65 col. 1825.

  270. Ibid., col. 1826.

  271. Ibid., col. 1827.

  272. Trevelyan, p. 265.

  273. Hansard, Vol. 65 col. 1828.

  274. Ibid., col. 1829.

  275. Ibid., col. 1831.

  276. Riddell, p. 6.

  277. Steed, II, p. 27.

  278. G&T, p. 297.

  279. Ibid., p. 302.

  280. Asquith, VS, p. 148.

  281. The Times, 4 August 1914, p. 4.

  282. Hansard, Vol. 65 col. 1833.

  283. RA GV/PRIV/GVD/1914: 3 August.

  284. Hansard, Vol. 65 col. 1834.

  285. Ibid., col. 1835.

  286. Ibid., col. 1836.

  287. Ibid., col. 1838.