February 10, 2015

Appointed to the Cabinet’s Committee on Imperial Defence

The record heat of the summer matched the political heat in Parliament. Ireland, Labour disputes, Parliamentary reform and Germany all vied for Churchill’s attention. Nothwithstanding his father’s old position, Winston became an active proponent of a united Ireland. Scions of other great families from the 1880s fight were also Involved; Austen Chamberlain (son of Joseph) and Lord Hugh Cecil (son of Lord Salisbury) bitterly opposed the Government’s plans. As Home Secretary, Churchill had first responsibility for law and order. This involved him directly in the dockworkers’ and transport workers’ strikes. His use of troops further alienated organized labour and the Left, which henceforth regarded him as a conservative enemy despite the many reforms passed during his tenure in office.

On the International scene he was reappraising his position. Although he and Lloyd George had led the opposition to increased armaments spending, they now perceived that Germany was an aggressive power. When a German gunboat appeared off Agadir in Morocco to intimidate the French, it unintentionally impressed the two British politicians who would have the greatest impact during the First World War. Asquith appointed Churchill to the Cabinet’s Committee on Imperial Defence. Later he wrote: “Once I got drawn in (to the preparation for war with Germany), it dominated all other interests in my mind.”

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