Duty and Democracy: Parliament and the First World War
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DUTY AND DEMOCRACY: DUTY AND DEMOCRACY: PARLIAMENT AND THE FIRST WORLD WAR DUTY AND DEMOCRACY: PARLIAMENT AND THE FIRST WORLD WAR CHRISTOPHER BLANCHETT CHRISTOPHER DUTY AND DEMOCRACY: PARLIAMENT AND THE FIRST WORLD WAR Acknowledgements Author: Chris Blanchett Contributions from: Oonagh Gay OBE, Mari Takayanagi, Parliamentary Archives Designer: Mark Fisher, House of Commons Design Team Many thanks to the following in assisting with the production and editing of the publication: Chris Bryant MP, Marietta Crichton-Stuart, Tom Davies, Mark Fisher, James Ford, Oonagh Gay, Emma Gormley, Greg Howard, Dr Matthew Johnson, Matt Keep, Bryn Morgan, Lee Morrow, David Natzler, David Prior, Keith Simpson MP, Professor Sir Hew Strachan, Jenny Sturt, Mari Takayanagi, Melanie Unwin, Lord Wallace of Saltaire, Edward Wood. “It is by this House of Commons that the decision must be taken, and however small a minority we may be who consider that we have abandoned our attitude of neutrality too soon, every effort should still be made to do what we can to maintain our attitude of peace towards the other Powers of Europe…War is a very different thing today from what it has been before. We look forward to it with horror.” Arthur Ponsonby MP – House of Commons, 3 August 1914. Foreword Rt. Hon John Bercow MP Speaker of the House of Commons No one in the United Kingdom was During this period, important legislation immune to the horrors of the First World was passed by Parliament that had a War, whether they were at the front, in a fundamental impact on the military strategy reserved occupation, or an anxious relative of the war and wider social changes taking beset with worry on behalf of loved ones. place at home. This publication explores the Parliament, its Members and staff were influence Parliament had during the war no different. 264 MPs served in the First and, just as importantly, the people who World War, with 22 of these making the helped to ensure democracy played such ultimate sacrifice. Many more Members’ a central role in decisions and debate. sons and House staff were also killed, The horrific losses and suffering of this now remembered on the war memorial conflict must never be forgotten in ensuring in Westminster Hall. our freedoms of today, and our children’s freedoms in the future. Foreword Rt Hon. Lord Fowler Lord Speaker The centenary of the First World War is a Of the 323 members of the Lords who good moment to reflect on how democracy served, 24 were killed and the Prime operated in a time of crisis and how the Minister, Herbert Asquith (later Earl of balance between security and liberties Oxford and Asquith) lost his son Raymond was managed. at the Battle of the Somme. The war was to affect generations to come but a new sense It also enables us to reveal the voices and of rights had emerged leading to votes role of women during the war such as for women over 30 and an increase in the 2nd Viscountess Rhondda; a suffragette, number of men enfranchised. daughter of an MP who survived the sinking of the Lusitania and who went on to fight The war was to shape Parliament’s a famous test case in an attempt to take development and Parliament was to shape her seat in the House of Lords. There are the war and this struggle 100 years on many more extraordinary characters in this should always be remembered. publication such as Private Lord Crawford who shunned ministerial office for a role on the front line. Contents Acknowledgements 4 Lord Crawford 30 Mr Speaker’s foreword 6 Thomas Edmund Harvey MP 38 Lord Speaker’s foreword 7 John Norton-Griffiths MP 42 Parliament’s Influence on the War 10 James Craig MP 48 Parliamentarians who served and Margaret Haig Thomas, died in the First World War 16 2nd Viscountess Rhondda 52 MPs who served or held military Girl Porters 58 positions during the First World William Leveson-Gower 60 War by constituency 17 Will Thorne MP 66 D.D. Sheehan MP 18 A Global Conflict – Air, Land and Sea 70 The First World War in numbers 21 The War’s impact on Parliament 74 Lord Ninian Crichton-Stuart 22 Notes 79 Sir Philip Sassoon MP 28 Bibliography and Sources 81 List of images 83 Parliament’s influence on the War ust over a century ago, London had enjoyed that situation, and that should it develop, good weather for the 3 August bank holiday. as probably it may develop, we will face it.” 1 The tense situation in Ireland, with conflict The Times parliamentary correspondent, J brewing between unionists and nationalists Michael MacDonagh, noted that the Commons and the suffragette campaign of direct action floor and gallery were packed and described the had taken the attention of most of the public dramatic moment when John Redmond, leader over the summer. The consequences of the of the Irish nationalists, pledged the support of his assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in party. 2 Only four of the 42 Labour MPs refused Sarajevo on 28 June 1914 were of peripheral to support the war, although its leader Ramsay importance. MacDonald, and its veteran former leader MP, Keir The expiry of the British ultimatum to Hardie, both spoke against. MacDonald resigned Germany for a free passage for troops through as leader later in 1914, not resuming leadership until Belgium provoked a sharp change in mood. 1922. Hardie died in September 1915, having faced Both Houses had sat on 3 August to debate the ferocious opposition for his anti-war stance. worsening international position. The official Parliament has been characterised as executive- Opposition supported the analysis of Sir Edward dominated during the war, especially after the Grey, the Foreign Secretary, that the country formation of the Asquith Coalition Government would have to honour its treaty commitment in 1915 and the Lloyd George Coalition in 1916. to Belgium. In concluding his speech Grey However, the real position is more complicated. commented, “We have disclosed our mind to the As the conflict continued, there were lively House of Commons. We have disclosed the issue, parliamentary debates and policy decisions the information which we have, and made clear which continue to resonate in politics today. to the House, I trust, that we are prepared to face Here is a selection: 10 DUTY AND DEMOCRACY: PARLIAMENT AND THE FIRST WORLD WAR Defence of the Realm Act people could not buy rounds of alcoholic drinks 4 August 1914: The Prime The Defence of the Realm Act 1914 (DORA) for other people with prosecutions taking place Minister, Ministers and was passed by both Houses on 7 August 1914, for such an offence. The war greatly extended MPs debate the decision without even a printed text being available. It gave state intervention into civilian behaviour. for Britain to go to war. the Government sweeping powers to nationalise Food rationing began in January 1918, limiting key industries, enforce press censorship, introduce consumption of sugar, margarine and meat. British Summer Time and create licensing hours The success of the scheme led to its early for pubs. The legislation was extended during the adoption in the Second World War. war and new measures prevented people from The Act, which was initially relatively buying binoculars, starting bonfires and feeding open to interpretation and not without its wild animals bread. DORA even meant that critics, was revised and extended numerous PARLIAMENT’S INFLUENCE ON THE WAR 11 “Are these men to be subjected to severe legal penalties for the crimes of cowardice and hypocrisy without any trial before their peers”? times over the course of the First World War Deputy Leader of the Labour Party was one, who to encompass further precautions. Many of undertook farm work. He was to become Minister the powers in DORA remained on the statute of Supply in the Coalition Government of 1940-45. book in the Emergency Powers Act 1920, The passions aroused by the position of which gave the Government powers to declare conscientious objectors are illustrated by the a state of emergency and to issue regulations. following excerpts from the debate on 29 June 1916, after Prime Minister Asquith made a statement. Conscription and the Military The previous day, there had been a question on four Service Acts 1916 conscientious objectors, named Hayward, Bishop, Huge losses among British troops led to the Reccord, and Fromow, detained at Shoreham introduction of conscription in 1916. The UK had Camp, West Sussex and subsequently taken to been the only great power taking part in hostilities France to be court-martialled. without a conscript army. Conscription initially Mr. Glanville asked the Under-Secretary applied to all single men between 18 and 41, but of State for War what was the reason for confining was rapidly extended to married men in late 1916. C.H. Norman, a conscientious objector detained at The Government also thought about introducing Wandsworth Detention Barracks, in a strait jacket conscription to Ireland but were concerned it from 24th May onward; and is it usual to so treat would provoke unrest, particularly after the men who only passively resist compulsion? 1916 Easter Rising in Dublin against the UK Colonel Yate Will the right hon. Gentleman Government. The plans were resurrected again take steps to deprive these men, whom he has just in April 1918 but were soon dropped following described as cowards and hypocrites, of their civil strikes, rallies and the formation of an Irish Anti- rights in the future? Conscription Committee. Mr. King Are these men to be subjected to Due to effective lobbying from the No- severe legal penalties for the crimes of cowardice Conscription Fellowship, formed by Fenner and hypocrisy without any trial before their peers? Brockway, there was a provision in the ThePrime Minister On the contrary, first Military Service Act 1916 to allow for the very object of the procedure which I have conscientious objectors (COs).