WAR MEMOIRS OF DAVID LLOYD GEORGE 1917

CHAPTER IV
STOCKHOLM AND MR. ARTHUR HENDERSON
Social disturbance caused by War — Difficult problems for the Government —
Medley of forces which effected Russian Revolution — Sir George Buchanan's
report of March 15, 1917 — Message to Russia from British Labour — French
and British Labour send deputations — A Stockholm Conference proposed by
Neutrals — Fresh Labour deputation to Russia — Soviet invites Socialist deputations
— Consultation with French and Italian Governments — Series of conversations
at Stockholm — Suggestion to replace Buchanan at Petrograd — M. Albert
Thomas' success in Russia — Henderson to visit Russia — Confusion in Russia —
Buchanan's dislike of Socialists — Henderson unable to replace Buchanan —
Passports granted to minority Socialists for Russian visit — British anger at
Socialist sedition — Sailors' and Firemen's Union refuse to take MacDonald to
Russia — Mr. Henderson returns — Consults with Labour Party Executive —
Stockholm project revived — Kerensky's limitations — Henderson's blunder in
going to Paris — Asked for explanation — He defies the War Cabinet — His
activities in Paris — "Doormat" incident — Cabinet anxious to retain Mr. Henderson
— Mr. Henderson's defence in the House — My defence of Henderson —
Conflicting tendencies in Russia — Message from the Embassy — Kerensky takes
charge — Cabinet opposed to Stockholm Conference — Henderson urges participation
in Labour Conference — Russian Embassy's letter — Henderson's
stubborn persistence — Cabinet maintains its attitude — Mr. Henderson's resignation
— Cabinet reviews the situation — Definition of its attitude — Kerensky's
difficulties with Soviet — Debate in the Commons — Labour support for Stockholm
fades — Reasons for Mr. Henderson's blunder.
THE Russian Revolution provoked repercussions far and
wide in the political ideas and movements of other countries.
For that matter, it is still doing so, and in many lands it has
proved and is proving the stimulus, by attraction or by repulsion,
for revolutionary and counter-revolutionary upheavals
which are bringing about great constitutional changes. When
revolution fails to spread, it hardens into reaction.
The war conditions which made the unrest particularly
dangerous, fomented by the Russian eruption, at the same
time favoured the flow of its fiery streams. The social conditions
and conventional restraints, inbred through genera-