POLITICIANS AT WAR

by Cameron Hazlehurst ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 31, 1971

Hazlehurst undertakes an intensive scrutiny of a narrow but much-debated slice of British history from the critical days of July 1914 immediately preceding the British declaration of war on Germany to May 1915 and the formation of the first Coalition, the beginning of Asquith's decline and the ascendancy of Lloyd George. Focusing on political decision-making within the Cabinet, Hazlehurst modifies traditional views of the pre-war Liberal ministry as sharply divided between hawks and doves. The majority, including Lloyd George, are ""waverers"" sensing the coming of war, trapped by their own pacific image, and grateful for the pretext of martyred Belgium as a casus belli. The analysis of British politics in the first months of the war continues with indecision and irresolute leadership the dominant theme. The author lines up with the Asquith debunkers and finds the Prime Minister unable to take the initiative either on the problem of the obstreperous Kitchener (""I am in despair over the stupidity of the War Office"" Lloyd George laments) or on the mounting munitions crisis. The single bright spot in the desultory leadership and failure of imagination is Lloyd George, galvanized into action at the Exchequer and exonerated by Hazlehurst from all charges of duplicity and disloyalty to his chief. ""Treacherous colleague, intriguer, ardent compulsionist and coalitionist, Lloyd George was none of these in the first nine months of the war."" Far from being a trap, Coalition was for Asquith both ""imperative"" and ""opportune,"" a temporary camouflage for an administration conspicuously unable to direct the war effort. It was also one more evasion which ""settled little that was relevant except to destroy organized opposition"" -- steadily rising on both Liberal and Tory back benches. Hazlehurst, who lectures on politics at Oxford, promises to continue his grey-on-grey study of British politics during World War I with two further volumes. For scholars and specialists and (perhaps) devoted fans of the Welsh Wizard.

Pub Date: March 31, 1971

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Knopf

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1971

Categories: NONFICTION