On Eve of War

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 489, 19 October 1928, Page 9

On Eve of War

SPLIT AMONG LIBERALS Morley’s Revelations (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Press Association > (United Service) THE LATE LORD MORLEY, in a “Memorandum On His Resignation,” published by Macmillan's, makes a dramatic revelation about the attitude of prominent Liberals on the eve of the World War, explaining why he and the Right Hon. John Burns resigned when British intervention was certain.

When Viscount (then Sir Edward) Grey warned the Cabinet that the general European question was involved and that England could not afford to efface herself, as sooner or later she would be dragged into the war, the Cabinet began to take sides. Mr. (later Viscount) Harcourt organised an opinion in favour of neutrality, which Lord Morley says was met by a countermove and openly worked with the best demoniac energy of Mr. Winston Churchill, the strenuous simplicity of Sir Edward Grey, and sourdement by the Lord Chancellor, Mr. Asquith seeing and waiting. . It was calculated that eight or nine men of the Cabinet were likely to agree with the “No War” group. “One of these days,” adds Lord Morley, “I tapped Winston on the shoulder as he sat netx to me, and and said, ’Winston, we have beaten you after all.’ He smiled cherefully, and well he might.” Mr. Lloyd George furnished the Cabinet with information that the bankers of the city and the industrial leaders weer aghast at the idea of war, saying it would cause credit to collapse. “When I pressed this important prospect later in the debate, Mr. Lloyd eGorge said rather tartly that he had neevr said he believed it.” Walking from the Cabient, Mr. Burns pressed Lord Morley’s arm and said with vehement emphasis, “Now mind that we look to you to stand firm.” Mr. Burns, In a meeting of Cabinet on Saturday evening, himself took the lead to good purpose, and intimated In most downright tones that Britain’s warning to Germany not to try it on against the French coasts or the ships in the Channel was more than he could stand, not only because it was practically a declaration of war at sea, leading inevitably to war on land; but mainly because it was a symbol of alliance with France, with whom there

was no such understanding hitherto. “Lloyd George's motives were a riddle. He knew his stock was danegrously low. Peace might be a popular card against Mr. Churchill's adventurous energy, and might break up the Government party. This might well make any man pause. The truth was that the Liberal Party was already shattered. Mr. Lloyd eGorge, on the eve of the mistake of his life, let him and others do what they would for me. There was no choice.” When Lord Mot ley said, “I must go with Burns,” Mr. Asquith asked him to sleep on it. Morley answered, “Of course I will. I left him trying to deal with Mr. Burns in vain.” Next day Mr. Lloyd George told Lord Morley the news that Germany was bullying Belgium had changed his and Mr. Runciman’s view. “Then came the final Cabinet meetoing. Lord Morley says he looked with paternal benignity on Mr. Churchill; but reiterated that he must go. Sir John Simon spoke briefly with much emotion, and with quivering lips and tears in his eyes. He was even firmer than I.” Earl Beauchamp backed Lord Morley, but Mr. Lloyd George earnestly expostulated, Mr. Asquith saying with some emphasis that nothing would induce him to separate from Sir Edward Grey. That evening Mr. Burns came to Lord Morley, and cried, “Have you heard the news? Asqiuth’s got over Simon and Beauchamp, so you and I are the only two.”