debates the Government regarded us as utterly neglieable, and
dOur attacks merely gave them an opportunity of expressing their
extreme views. Neither Asquith and Grey nor Lloyd George and
Balfour paid the smallest attention to what we said. This of
Ccourse does not mean that we should not have gained great par-
liamentary strength had circumstances turned in another diree-
tion. Because throughout our arguments were listened to by the
House as a whole with patience and often with attention.
Had there been an unequivocal declaration from the German
Government on the subject of Belgium — that undoubtedly would
have strengthened our position enormously. The whole Lans-
downe movement would have been infinitely larger and more
effective and (taking this point quite by itself) it might have
been the turning point; and the weight of opinion by the end of
1917 of those who were tired of the war would have almost forced
the Government to respond favourably to advances from Germany.
But a declaration with regard to Belgium is not the only con-
sideration that must be taken into account. The military situa-
tion was really the governing factor throughont. I believe there
were moments of deadlock of which advantage might have been
taken, but there were far more moments of success or failure on
one side or the other, and these moments were very unfavourable
for any hopes of negotiation. The soldiers kept silent on the sub-
ject of policy, they never indulged in the foolish and provocative
utbursts of politicians, but behind the scenes their control was
paramount do not at all agree that Lloyd George was “always
a hopeless case''. But I1 am not certain that an unequivocal
declaration on Belgium at the end of 1917 would have been
necessarily successful. It certainly would have brought round
a very large section of moderate opinion and tired and exhausted
Sections of the people, but as to whether it would have been suf-
ficient to overcome not only the determined generals and their
militarist supporters but opinion in France (for France did not
care two straws about Belgium) is doubtful. At the same time it
would have produced a division of opinion and this would have
made the vigorous prosecution of the war much more difficult,
for the Government, who might therefore have been inclined to
listen to reason.
I have dealt solely with the point about Belgium, because 1
think that is the only one about which 1 am doubtful.
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