WAR MEMOIRS OF DAVID LLOYD GEORGE 1917

38 WAR MEMOIRS OF DAVID LLOYD GEORGE
laration of war that Germany meant deliberately to provoke
it for sinister ends which have since become even more clear
— to impose, first upon Europe, and, through Europe, upon
the world, a military despotism; and I am sure that the representatives
of the Empire will recognise that if they were
not consulted before we had engaged ourselves in this war,
it was due entirely to circumstances, not merely over which
we had no control, but which many statesmen with an intimate
knowledge of the facts did not at the time even foresee.
However, we entered into it, as we conceived, for the defence
of liberty, for the protection of weak nationalities who were
threatened by a powerful autocracy, and we took for granted
that the Dominions and the rest of the Empire would take
exactly the same view as we did, that the very highest traditions
of the British Empire made it imperative upon us to
accept the challenge the moment it was thrown down. And
the sequel proves that we were right in that assumption; for
all parts of the Empire have nobly come to our aid — spontaneously
and with a good heart, recognising that our quarrel
in this is the quarrel of the whole Empire, and, through the
Empire, the quarrel of humanity.
The Imperial Staff and the advisers of the great Navy
of Britain will present their views as to the military and naval
situation, and therefore it will not be for me even to attempt
to give any sketch of the position from a military or naval
point of view. The Foreign Secretary will, if not this morning,
at any rate I hope to-morrow morning, give to the Cabinet
a review of our foreign relations in respect both of our
Allies and of neutrals, and also of the obligations into which
we have entered. We shall have from the Chancellor of the
Exchequer a review of the financial position in this country.
The Minister of Blockade will give a summary of the actual
position with regard to the blockading operations of Germany.
The Secretary of State for India is here also, and will