Memorandum on Resignation, August 1914

[Uncle George]

by John Viscount Morley (1928).

 

This is a day-to-day (gossipy, almost) account of the events leading to Morley's resignation on 3 August 1914.

 

Here's an example of the book's tone: we read that, "Grey in his own quiet way, which is none the less impressive for being so simple, and so free from the cassant and over-emphatic tone that is Asquith's vice on such occasions, made a memorable pronouncement."

 

We learn that on August 3, "Simon said to me privately that he felt pretty sure of decisive influence over Lloyd George, and that he (Simon) looked to resignation as quite inevitable." 

 

Later that day, "The motives of Lloyd George were a riddle. He knew that his 'stock' had sunk dangerously low; peace might be the popular card against the adventurous energy of Winston."

 

I have attached a couple of pages (from archive.org), which give more of a flavour.

 

We are given in addition Asquith's letter in response to Morley's resignation (" ... I therefore beg you, with all my heart, to think twice and thrice, and as many more times as arithmetic can number, before you take a step which impoverishes the Government, and leaves me stranded and almost alone ... "); and Morley's reply ("Your letter shakes me terribly. It goes to my very core ... ")

 

This is a short, informative and very enjoyable volume, which I have attached. 

 

https://archive.org/stream/memorandumonresi030576mbp#page/n7/mode/2up

 

 

[johnboy]

Thanks for the link.