THE IMPERISHABLE STORY

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 54, 28 November 1923, Page 8

THE IMPERISHABLE STORY

MR. WINSTON CHURCHILL’S WAR MEMOIRS

THE POLITICAL CRISIS: FORMATION OF THE COALITION

MR. LLOYD GEORGE AND “ROUSING THE - DOMINIONS”

The twentieth article of Mr. Winston Churchill’s war inemoirs covers the political crisis which led to the birth tof the Coalition—an event which placed Mr. Balfour in Charge at the Admiralty. Mr. Churchill’s future apparently gave the political chiefs a certain amount of concern, and in this connection Mr. Lloyd George made a rather interesting proposal,

(Exclusive to “The Dominion.”)

I was bv no means, sure that I should not be confronted with the resignation of the other three. Sea. Lords. On the Sundav morning. however. I learned that Sir Arthur Wilson had been consulted bv the Sea Lords, and he had informed them that it was their duty to remain at their posts and that no case for resignation had arisen. I was led bv this fact to ask Sir Arthur Wilson whether he would be willing himself to fill the vacancy of First Sea Lord. He asked for an hour to consider the matter, and then to my gratification. and I will add surprise, he informed mo that he would do so. By Sundav at noon I was in a position to reconstitute the Board of Admiralty in all resDeots. I then motored down to the Primo Minister, who was m the country. , I told him that Lord Fisher’s resignation was final, and that my office was at his disposal if .he required to make a change. He said, “No, I have thought of that. I do not wish it, but can vou get a board?” I then told him that all the other members of the board would remain, and that Sir Arthur AVilson would take Lord Fisher’s place. I understood him to assent to this arrangement. Later his private secretary .mentioned in conversation that the situation resulting from the shell shortage disclosure and the resignation of Lord Fisher was so serious that the. Prime Minister ‘th.OTie’ht the Unionist leaders would have to be consulted on the steps to be taken. I saw from this that the crisis -.would not he bv any means confined to the Admiraltv. . Mr. Asquith asked *mo to stav and! dine, and wo had a pleasant evening amid all our troubles. I returned that night to London. On Monday morning I asked Mr. Balfour to come to the Admiralty. I told him Lord Fisher had resigned, and that I understood from the Prime Minister that he would approve the reconstruction of the Board of Admiralty with Sir Arthur Wilson as First Sea Lord. I told him Sir Arthur Wilson was willing to accept office, and that all the other members of . the board would remain. I said that if these arrangements were finally approved by the Prime Minister that afternoon, I would make an immediate announcement to the House of Commons and court a debate. Mr. Balfour was indignant at Lord Fisher’s resignation. He said that it would greatlv disturb Jus Unionist friends and that he. would himself go and prepare them for it and steady their opinion. Nothing could exceed the kindness and firmness of his attitude. I spent the rest of the morning preparing my statement fot Parliament, expecting a severe challenge. but also to be successful. I still had no knowledge whatever of the violent political convulsions which were proceeding around me and be* neath me. I went down to the House with the list of my new board complete, fully ■prepared to encounter the debate. Before seeing the Primo Minister I looked in to the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s room. Mr. Llovd George then made to me the following disclosure. Tho leaders of the Opposition were in possession of all the facts about the shell shortage, and had given notice that they intended l to demand a debate. The resignation of Lord Fisher at this juncture created a political crisis. Mr. ■Llovd George was convinced that this crisis could only be surmounted by the formation of a national Coalition Government. He had accordingly informed the Prime Minister that he would resign unless such a Government were formed at once. I said’ that he knew I had always been in favour of such a Government, and had pressed it at everv possible opportunity, but that I. hoped now it might be referred until mv board was reconstituted and in the saddle at the . Admiralty. He said action must be immediate.

“A COMMAND IN FRANCE”

I then repaired, as had been arranged, to the Prime Minister. He re'cel'ved me with great consideration. I ■presented him with the list of the new board. He said: “No this will not do. I have decided to form a national Government by a coalition with the Unionists, and a very much laiger reconstruction will be require!.” He told me that Lord Kitchoiv.-r was to leave the War Office and then .added, after some complimentary remarks: “What are wo to do for you?” I saw at once that it was decided I should leave the Admiralty, and I replied that Mr. Balfour could succeed me there with the least break in continuity; that for several months I had made him a party to all our secrets and to everything that was going forward; and that his appointment would be far tho best that could be made. The Prime Minister seemed deeply gratified at this suggestion, and I saw that ho already had it in his mind. He reverted to the personal question. “Would I take office in the new Government, or would I prefer a command in France?” At this moment the Chancellor of tho Exchequer entered the room. The Primo Minister turn-

ed to him. Mr. Lloyd George replied: “Why,do you not send him to the Colonial Office to rouse the Dominions and mobilise the resources of the colonies?” I did not accept this suggestion, and the discussion was about to continue when the door again opened and a secretary entered with tho f< 1lowing message for me: “Masterton Smith is on the telephone. Very important nows of the kind that never fails has just come in. You must come back to the Admiralty at once.” I repeated this information to my two colleagues and quitted them without another word. It, took only five minutes to get to tho Admiralty. There I learned that the whole German Fleet was coming out. All its three battle squadrons, both scouting groups and seventy destroyers wore involved. A message from the German Commandef-in-Chief to the fleet contained the phrase: “Intend to attack by day.” The political crisis and my own fate in it passed almost completely out of my mind. In the absence of the First Sea Lord I sent for Admiral Oliver, the Chief of the Staff, and we together issued orders for the Grand Fleet and all other available forces to proceed to sea. I was determined that our whole power, should be engaged if battle were joined, and that the enemy’s retreat should bo intercepted. (Mr. Churchill here tells of the naval episode of May 18 and continues:) The episode was over. All our fleets, squadrons, and flotillas, turned morosely away to resume their longdrawn, unsleeping watch, and I awoke again to the political crisis.KITCHENER REHABILITATED But my hour had passed, and during the afternoon, and still more the following day, I learned from a sure source that my position was being viewed with increasing disfavour by those into whose hands power had now fallen. I was not included in their conclaves, which proceeded with the utmost animation from hour to hour. The Unionist leaders, on coming to the aid of the nation at this juncture, made no conditions as to policy. but stipulated for half the places and patronage. Mr. Asquith had. therefore, to dispense with half his former colleagues. Those whose actions in the conduct of the war were held to have produced this disagreeable result were naturally the object of resentment in Liberal circles. Up till Monday night it had been determined that Lord Kitchener should be transferred from the. "War Office to some great position similar to that of Commander-in-Chief, but on Tuesday it was realised that his hold on the confidence of the nation was still too great for any Governent to do without him. On Wednesday Mr. Asquith made haste to issue tho reassuring statement that both Lord Kitchener and Sir Edward Grey would remain' in the’r respective posts. Oil Friday, 21st, when Lord Northcliffe published an attack upon the War Minister of a violent character, there was a spontaneous movement of public anger in many parts _of the country and the offending newspaper was burned upon the Stock Exchange. In the wake of these emotions it was natural that the vacant Garter should be bestowed upon Lord Kitchener, and ho was at the same time awarded the Grand Cordon of the Belgian Order of Leopold. His rehabilitation was therefore complete. I alone was held to blame for all the upheaval and its discontent.

The more serious physical wounds aro often surnrisingly endurable at the moment thev arc received. There is an interval of uncertain length before sensation is renewed. The shock numbs but doos not paralyse; tho wound bleeds but does not smart. So it is also with the great reverses and josses of life. Before I had. revised the intensity with which political irritation was being focused on me, I had resigned myself to leaving the Admiralty] But on the Wednesday evening an incident occurred which profoundly affected my feelings and judgment. Ono nf the Sea Lords informed me that Sir Arthur Wilson, who had already provisionallv assumed thg duties of First Sea Lord, had written to the Prime Minister declining to so-ve under any First Lord except me. His letter jms alreadv been published in the first volume. This utterlv unexpected mark of confidence from the old Adm'ral astounded me. His reserve had been impenetrable. I had no idea how he viewed me and my work. Certainly I never counted on the slightest support from him. —Sydney “Sun r ’ Copjwight. TO-MORROW. End of Mr. Churchill’s administration nt the Admiralty: “The Fleet was ready.”