How the War Came

ISBN: 9781334286865 出版年：2016 页码：376 Robert Threshie Reid Forgotten Books

While the war lasted no criticism of what had gone before or even of What was passing at the time would have met with public approval, except such as might be necessary to prevent blunders being made, or to prevent blunderers from being sheltered by secrecy. But it is to be deplored that outspoken and effective discussion after the war is ended should have been prejudiced in advance by the course things have taken. Nearly all those whose public utterances would most command attention have been in one way or another drawn into positions which disable them from criticizing with effect. Before giving to France on 2nd August 1914 that definite promise of armed naval support against Germany which irrevocably pledged us to war, Mr. Asquith received an undertaking from Lord Lansdowne and Mr. Bonar Law that they would assist him in Parliament. When the war broke out, all the Cabinet Ministers then in Office, except two, were persuaded to remain, though some of them did not conceal their dislike of the Ministerial policy.