attendant on it.’ This remark is typical hagiographical by modern standards, it David Nolan is Secretary of Crosby & of a book that is as easy going as the is nonetheless welcome as one of the Bootle Liberal Democrats, and an amateur character it depicts. surprisingly few biographies of the historian with an interest in th century At the same time as telling his tale, man currently in print. British political history. Cecil does find time to explore Melbourne’s deeply cautious political outlook. He took a sceptical view of grand reform schemes put forward by various interests, once remarking, The most complex character ‘When in doubt what should be done, do nothing.’ He may have mistrusted reform, but he was ready to accept it Antony Lentin: Lloyd George and the Lost Peace: when he judged it necessary in order From Versailles to Hitler, 1914–1940 (Palgrave, to achieve his most abiding aim, the 2001) preservation of order and tranquillity. On occasion his concern for order led Reviewed by David Dutton to mistakes, such as his heavy-handed treatment of the Tolpuddle Martyrs – one of the few features of his career to he main problem with this negotiations than has been reached by come in for criticism by Cecil – but it book is its title. It is not, as the any other author. The British Prime also led him to change his mind in T reader might have suspected, a Minister rejoiced in what he had done favour of an extension of the franchise, systematic survey of Lloyd George’s in the Versailles settlement, but was and it motivated his constant efforts to attitude towards the problems of the fully aware of the work which re- chart a middle course between the peace settlement between the signing of mained to be tackled. He would radical and conservative pressures on the Treaty of Versailles and the fall of probably have endorsed General his government from . Like France two decades later. It consists in Smuts’ conclusion that ‘the real work Gladstone later, though less frequently fact of a collection of six essays, four of of peace will only begin after this and far more reluctantly, his conserva- which deal with various aspects of the treaty has been signed’. tive ends sometimes led him to employ  settlement itself. Furthermore, A continuous narrative, covering reforming means. earlier drafts of all but one of the essays the whole period from  to , Unlike Gladstone he got on ex- have already been published, and the might have made it easier to make tremely well with Queen Victoria. author himself wrote a monograph on sense of the two final and still some- Ascending the throne at just eighteen, Lloyd George, the peace settlement and what bizarre episodes examined in the she looked to her Prime Minister as her the seeds of the next war almost twenty last two chapters of this book – Lloyd principal source of advice and guidance years ago. Is there, then, much to be said George’s visit to Hitler in , and his on the execution of her duties. Nor was to justify the present volume? response to the fall of Poland in , it all strictly business; they became very The answer is an emphatic ‘yes’. It is and the possibility of a compromise close friends who met several times a precisely because Antony Lentin has day as much as a means of mutual devoted the majority of his academic support than because of any need to career to trying to get to grips with attend to matters of state. Indeed, this most slippery of biographical Victoria became so reliant upon him, subjects that his latest book may be and as a result so prejudiced against his read with such profit. What we have is political opponents, that Melbourne a perceptive and insightful study of the had to work hard to educate her out of complex Welshman, which at times her antipathy to Peel and the Tories. In borders on the psychoanalytical but the end though, it was Melbourne which rarely fails to convince, such is rather than the Queen who had the the author’s rapport with the subject of harder time adapting to the drastic his enquiries. The analysis of the change in their acquaintance that relationship between Lloyd George inevitably followed the collapse of his and Lord Cunliffe over the negotiation government in . of the reparations settlement is particu- With narrative history now very larly persuasive, and represents a much back in fashion it is hardly significant modification of accepted surprising that David Cecil’s historical wisdom. Lentin probably novelesque and sympathetic study of takes us nearer to a genuine under- Melbourne should now be repub- standing of what Lloyd George was lished. Whilst it may be rather too seeking to achieve during the peace

46 Journal of Liberal Democrat History 34/35 Spring/Summer 2002 peace when the war turned against But to suggest that, had Lloyd George Britain in the spring of . It must, rather than Neville Chamberlain been ‘Let us open to them the of course, be admitted that such a in power in the late s, some sort of door of the House of narrative would be difficult to con- Anglo-German understanding would Commons’ struct, for in the years after the end of have been arrived at, presupposes that continued from page 21 his premiership in  Lloyd George’s Britain could, in anything other than attention was understandably directed the very short term, have lived in be displayed. Till we have done this, let away from international affairs and harmony with a Nazi Germany us not presume to say that there is no towards the domestic problems of the rampant and unrestrained in continen- genius among the countrymen of British economy and the Liberal Party. tal Europe. Isaiah, no heroism among the de- That said, Lentin shows that Lloyd There is plenty here to stimulate the scendants of the Maccabees. George was in no sense Hitler’s dupe. reader, though at the end of the day he Sir, in supporting the motion of my All the same, it is difficult to avoid the may still decide that Lloyd George will honourable friend, I am, I firmly be- conclusion that he misjudged his man. forever escape the conclusive grasp of lieve, supporting the honour and the There were aspects of Hitler to which historical comprehension. As his long- interests of the Christian religion. I Lloyd George was instinctively drawn, term secretary, A. J. Sylvester, once put should think that I insulted that reli- not least because Hitler was enacting it, ‘his character is the most complex I gion if I said that it cannot stand un- in Germany some of the social and have ever known’. aided by intolerant laws. Without such economic policies which the Welsh- laws it was established, and without man had unsuccessfully urged upon David Dutton is Reader in History at the such laws it may be maintained. It tri- the National Government in Britain. University of Liverpool. umphed over the superstitions of the most refined and of the most savage nations, over the graceful mythology of Greece and the bloody idolatry of Keeper of the Liberal Flame the northern forests. It prevailed over conctinued from page 25 the power and policy of the Roman Empire. It tamed the barbarians by John Davies is the eldest son of Ivor Davies, Economist 19 August 1950, The Press and Jour- whom that empire was overthrown. born in  and educated at the universities nal 13 May 1950, and elsewhere. 13 Ivor Davies: obituary in The Bookseller by John But all these victories were gained not of Oxford and Sheffield, recently retired from Davies, 5 December 1986, p. 2240. by the help of intolerance, but in spite the Publishers Association where he was Di- 14 ‘Mr Davies adopted for Oxford’, Oxford Mail, 7 of the opposition of intolerance. The rector of the Educational Publishers Council, June 1952. 15 ‘City Tory majority slashed’, Oxford Times, 16 whole history of Christianity proves the Council of Academic and Professional October 1964 p. 28. that she has little indeed to fear from Publishers, the Serial Publishers Executive, 16 ‘Mr Ivor Davies to stand for Oxford City Coun- persecution as a foe, but much to fear the Copyright Licensing Agency and the cil’, Oxford Mail 28 February 1953. from persecution as an ally. May she Publishers Licensing Society 17 Oxford City Council Liberal election address, Wolvercote Ward 1970. long continue to bless our country 18 Our Olive (Oxford 1989) p. 95. with her benignant influence, strong 1 Edinburgh University Personality Series No. 11 19 Bernard Levin, writing as Taper in The Spectator, in her sublime philosophy, strong in – Ivor R.M. Davies in The Student, 1 February September 1961. 1938, p 161. 20 ‘Ivor Davies – the Man for Oxford’, Liberal her spotless morality, strong in those 2 Reported in The Bulletin (Aberdeen) July 1937. News General Election Campaign edition 1964, internal and external evidences to 3 Election addresses: Oxford 1938, Central Aber- p. 1. which the most powerful and compre- deenshire 1945, West Aberdeenshire 1950, 21 ‘A royal reward’, Oxford Mail, 1 November Oxford 1955, 1959, 1964. 1984 p. 7. hensive of human intellects have 4Profile of the Rev. Roderick G Davies in The 22 ‘Man of influence for four decades’, Oxford yielded assent, the last solace of those Christian World, 16 May 1940, p. 3. Mail, 3 December 1986 p. 2. There was no who have outlived every earthly hope, 5 e.g. lead feature in Glasgow Weekly Herald, 5 obituary in Liberal News. December 1936: ‘The Milk Muddle’ by Ivor the last restraint of those who are R.M. Davies, p. 8. raised above every earthly fear! But let Bibliographical Note: At their deaths in 6 Ian Bradley – ‘Oxford 1938 – the first ‘War’ not us, mistaking her character and her the late s, Ivor and Jean Davies left be- vote’ – The Times, 27 October 1978, p. 16. interests, fight the battle of truth with 7 Ivor R M Davies, Trial By Ballot (London, 1950), hind them a significant collection of press the weapons of error, and endeavour pp. 143–44. cuttings, election literature and other docu- 8 Quoted by Tom Harrisson, co-founder of Mass to support by oppression that religion ments related to their political activities. Observation, in Picture Post, 5 November 1938. which first taught the human race the 9 ‘Recount Drama ends Darwen Contest’ in These have been drawn upon for this article great lesson of universal charity. Northern Daily Telegraph, 1943. and, where attributed and relevant, some of 10 ‘Central Aberdeenshire – Result of Poll’ in Huntly Express 27 July 1945 p. 3. them are cited in the footnotes. The content of 11 See article by Robert Ingham, ‘Donald Johnson the article, however, also owes much to eye- – the last Liberal Imperialist’, Journal of Liberal witness observation and conversations within Democrat History 25, Winter 1999–2000, p. 31. 12 Reviewed in Times Literary Supplement 23 June the family and with friends of the subject 1950 p. 383, Truth 18 August 1950 p. 167, The over many years.

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