Poem ~ Fall Of A Government - Thursday, 7 December 1916 - Friday 8 December 1916

 Source: File: Herbert Henry Asquith. See an original image at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._H._Asquith> [Accessed 07 December 2016]

Source: File: David Lloyd George. See an original image at: <https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:David_Lloyd_George_1915.jpg> [Accessed 07 December 2016]

After the initial months of conflicts, tensions had raised

In the running of British government - the munitions

Shortages prompted a change for important decisions -

A Coalition rule formed as a way forward for war.

May 1915 marked the date when Liberal prime minister

Asquith formed this situation, from out of the belief

That war could be managed in business as usual;

Though lack of unionist support left government weak.

The coalition then consisted of one labour member

Along with nine conservatives - though the liberals

Still held the most important positions - to dissatisfy

The conservative party and their leader Bonar Law.

Continual failures did not bring war to any conclusion;

The Dardanelles campaign had ended without success,

The Somme Offensive had not brought the hoped

For outcome - by December Roumania lay defeated.

Such variety of threads had all been woven into place,

To cause a likely unavoidable chain reaction - another

Factor was the Lansdowne Memorandum published

13 November seeking a Central Powers settlement.

20 November 1916 saw a meeting set by Max Aitken,

Canadian entrepreneur and friend to leader Bonar Law,

To be attended by Lloyd George and Edward Carson

Irish politician and unionist - to agree need for change.

In making conclusion the current government was

Not functioning, they formulated an agreed plan for

A War Council led by Lloyd George - they all agreed

Asquith would remain prime minster and overseer.

Yet divisions remained amid politicians over Asquith

Staying on as prime minster. The newspaper Magnate

Lord Northcliffe emerged, playing a pivotal role in the

Outcome, taking many meetings with Lloyd George.

The proposal was then presented to Asquith over

Establishing this War Council, of more than five

Members, although Asquith would keep 'supreme

Control’; Asquith stated that he would be chairman.

With the plan tentatively taken Lloyd George could

Not accept Asquith's wish - he wrote to Bonar Law

2 December to say he had to make 'resolute action' -

The press bubbled as conservative leaders met.

By twists and turns of unconfirmed plots raised

Debates over Asquith's future position - a resolution

From conservatives came; Asquith would need

To tender resignation of the current government.

If he did not conservative members would then

Resign - Bonar Law relayed this to prime minister

But without raising the resolution, after they met

Asquith sought to compromise with Lloyd George.

In a return to basics with 1st December proposal,

Was amendment that the prime minister would

Instead have right of daily oversight and allowed

To veto - Asquith, George and Law met again.

3 December 5 p.m. they decided over a bulletin

To be released to state the Government was

To undergo modifications - 4 December saw

Release, to attract great hostile press reactions.

Critics said how Asquith would be prime minister

In name only - suspicions lay on Lloyd George

As the source to a press editor - Asquith reacted;

He could not go on if claims were uncorrected.

4 December saw various quick fire meetings and

Led to Asquith and supporters standing firm, in

Order to fight into evening's meltdown - Asquith

Reacted in rejecting the idea of a war council.

With further debates too and fro on 5 December,

Ministers showed their true colours; that without

Bona Law and Lloyd George in post they could not

Work in the Government - instability had been set.

Into evening's darkness 5 December Asquith made

His way to Buckingham Palace, for an audience

With the king - next mornings newspaper reports

Told In a grave act Asquith had given his resignation.

Later that same evening Bonar Law had followed

The same path, in order to accept the King's offer

In royal commission - battle lines between Asquith

And George led to problems egged on by press.

While making acceptance of king's Commission

Bonar Law called at No 10 Downing Street to ask

If Asquith would still serve with him - but with his

Refusal Bonar Law rejected the royal commission.

Finally 6 December Lloyd George was requested

To form a government - He acted within 24 hours

To establish not a war council, but a war cabinet -

By 7 December date George was prime minister.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1916. Mr Asquith's Resignation. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 6 December 1916. P.8. Col.5. Available at: <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12213939/Daily-Telegraph-December-6-1916.html> [Accessed: 7 December 2016].

Source: File: H. H. Asquith. Wikipedia. Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._H._Asquith> [Accessed 7 December 2016]

Source: File: David Lloyd George. Wikipedia. Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Lloyd_George> [Accessed 7 December 2016]

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 7 December 2016). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12213939/Daily-Telegraph-December-6-1916.html

http://worldwaroneblogger.blogspot.co.uk/

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Poem ~ Kitchener Rumours - Sunday 7 November 1915

Source: File: Horatio Kitchener. jpeg, [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Horatio_Kitchener,_1st_Earl_Kitchener_-_Project_Gutenberg_eText_15306.jpg> Accessed: 7 November 2015].

Having left British shores Earl Kitchener,

Was by 7 November, on route to Gallipoli -

The objective to gain first hand truth

Of the war situation on the Turkish front.

Only a day after departure came need

For announcement to explain, that while

Minister of War was away, the war office

Came under the command Mr Asquith.

Such situations had been quite normal,

When Earl Kitchener's duties took him

From Whitehall - While Downing Street

Had seen a normal ministers meeting.

A press Bureau statement told how

Sir Edward Grey, Lloyd George other

Ministers, with a few military officers,

Met as usual nothing out of ordinary.

Not unusual, except for suggestion

Of a circulated story, about resignation

Of Lord Earl Kitchener - the humdrum

Duties saw meet Board of Education.

Therefore in words of bold, told how

A temporary absence of the great man

Was being carried on by Prime Minister,

Without truth in resignation of Kitchener.

While there is often no truth in rumours,

Rumours might often turn out to be true.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1915. Lord Kitchener - Temporary Absence On Public Duty - Resignation Denied. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 6 November. P.9. Col.4. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11975530/Daily-Telegraph-November-6-1915.html [Accessed: 7 November 2015].

Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 7 November 2015). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11975530/Daily-Telegraph-November-6-1915.html

http://worldwaroneblogger.blogspot.co.uk/

#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary #worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1London

Poem ~ Dublin Recruitment Speeches – Saturday, 26 September 1914

The Prime Minster Mr Asquith, in a visit to Ireland,

Spoke from the Dublin Mansion House on Friday night

With Irish leader Mr Redmond, addressing a recruiting

Meeting. While crowds remained outside devoid of tickets,

3000 people filled the round room to hear the speakers.

Having declined a public welcome in Kingstown,

The Prime Minister, accompanied by Mrs Asquith

And Miss Violet Asquith, Was still greeted keenly,

By a large gathered crowd on the pier – The party

Were then driven to the Viceregal Lodge,

To be the guests of the Earl of Aberdeen.

Crowds had waited all day about the Mansion House-

As inside an audience gave a standing ovation,

For several minutes, to Mr Asquith and Mr Redmond.

In the Lord Mayor’s opening statement was declared,

That the Irish people were practically unanimous,

In support of the government - The audience cheered.

Their cheers being for war and on side of the Minister.

He spoke out in making a prompt for weak nations,

To stand up against a strong enemy’s violence -

Whose practice of intrusion is their religion of force.

Asquith gave marked pauses throughout his speech,

At how Germany had been readily equipping for war –

And how their youth is taught the belief of German,

Supreme power - The speaker formed a picture,

In his plea against militarism of a ruthless Germany -

Creating wastage of war and dislocation.

His call was for a ‘place in the sun’ for small nations,

And for their equality in rights - the speech built

Towards the purpose of his appeal for recruitment.

Making his Premier call from Dublin,

Mr Asquith indicates how mustering convoys

Are forming in all parts of British Dominions.

Alluding to two aspects of current recruitment,

The first being of troops landing at Marseilles.

Today in France of the First Indian Contingent,

While at home more than 500,000 recruits

Have joined the colours - Leading to the point

Of his trip to Ireland asking them to take part -

While adding he does not need to ask –

He makes a request to National Volunteers

And others, to be prompt and enthusiastic,

In joining a worthy and large contingent,

For the growth of second army - Ideally

There would be a formation of Irish Brigade,

Or even an Irish Army Corps - would be welcomed.

In acknowledging great pride in Irish recruits,

Asquith says more men were wanted from Ireland

Ireland was called ‘The loyal daughter of the Empire’ -

Subjects were noted as unthinkable - of how one section

Of Irishmen were prepared to fight other Irishmen -

And how Britain was to be in a place to fight either….

At which point loud cheers filled the air.

Recruits were now wanted at once, to be ready in time,

For what might, and could be the final, decisive battle,

For ‘the greatest struggle in the history of the world.’

The speaker adds with force ‘old animosities are dead

And we are a united nation.’  A culmination of cheers

Seems to be the conviction of Ireland‘s readiness,

To give recruits as the, ‘free offering of a free people.’

Following a speech by Earl of Meath, Mr Redmond

Roused eager sympathy of Ireland with Belgium,

Making references to the Louvain atrocities -

Ireland was in full empathy with the wars objectives.

The Irish Leader noting while this was not an Irish war,

Everything was at stake - for which they had striving

For in over forty years was now caught in this struggle –

Mr Redmond calls on the Great British people, having

Faith with Ireland -Now Ireland will return that faith.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1914. Premier’s call to Ireland – Plea for Army Corps – A united Empire – First Indian Contingent – Arrival at Marseilles. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 26 Sept. p.7. Col.7. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11121578/Daily-Telegraph-September-26-1914.html [Accessed: 26 September 2014].

Mann, J., 2014. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 26 September 2014). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11121578/Daily-Telegraph-September-26-1914.html

http://worldwaroneblogger.blogspot.co.uk/

#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #ww1centenary #worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered