The mirrors of Downing Street

[Skipman]

This is a great little book, full of interesting observations on well know Great War characters.

" A House of Commons that had hesitated an hour after the invasion of Belgium would have been swept out of existence by the wrath and indignation of the people. Mr. Asquith was the voice of England in that great moment of her destiny, a great and sonorous voice, but by no means her heart. He kept faction together at a moment when it was least possible for it to break apart ; but he did not lead the nation into war. It was largely because he seemed to lack assurance that Lord Haldane was sacrificed. The Tories felt that Mr. Asquith would not make war whole-heartedly ; they looked about for a scapegoat ; Lord Haldane was chosen for this purpose by the stupidest of the Tory leaders ; and the bewildered Prime Minister, with no mind of his own, and turning first to this counsellor and then to that, sacrificed the most intellectual of modern War Ministers, called Sir Edward Carson to his side, and left the British war machine to Lord Kitchener. "

The mirrors of Downing Street, some political reflections