The Great War: Tragedy and Triumph, 1916-1918

Abstract Lloyd George, his hand strengthened by his powers of patronage, managed to form a ministry with surprising ease. The much-criticized Balfour, who had earlier submitted his resignation as First Lord of the Admiralty, was won over with the offer of the Foreign Office-despite being thought of as the Conservative who stood closest to Asquith. The other leading Conservatives, the ‘3 Cs’ included, also decided that their patriotic duty required them to join the new government, as did Arthur Henderson, the Labour Leader, who at a late stage transferred his allegiance from Asquith to Lloyd George. Lloyd George’s position was also strengthened by Addison’s timely announcement on 6 December that 136 Liberal backbenchers ‘had definitely promised support’ were the Welshman to form an administration (the true number was probably between forty and fifty!)1 Yet, on the debit side, all the senior Liberal ex-ministers followed Asquith on to the backbenches-Montagu in agony of spirit, most of the others with relief. Only Liberal politicians of the second rank, such as Addison, were willing to be prominently associated with the new government.