A Journalist's Diplomatic Mission: Ray Stannard Baker's World War I Diary

3. First Impressions of British Opinion

11 3 First Impressions of British Opinion. In planning my campaign of inquiry I decided to talk first with several liberalminded Englishmen whom I already knew and to whom I had letters of introduction —men upon whose objectivity of judgment and breadth of view I knew I could count. I wanted to understand the background of the situation as clearly as possible, all the various currents of opinion, before I ventured to meet the leaders of the restless groups in whom I was chiefly interested. MONDAY, MARCH 11 I went down to Oxford by the early train and had a long talk with Professor Gilbert Murray. The farmers in the fields along the way were plowing, and all the little areas and hedge corners were full of crocuses in bloom, although the air was chill. Spring is really coming. I remained to lunch, and while we were talking army flying machines from a nearby training field were whirling noisily overhead, but no one took the slightest notice of them. Before I left the United States there were rumors at Washington, apparently well substantiated, that the Lloyd George7 government was in a precarious situation and might have to resign. It was added evidence, if any were necessary, of the growing confusion and strain of the war. Professor Murray told me that the crisis had temporarily passed and while the government is 7. David Lloyd George (1863–1945), the Liberal Party leader, was British prime minister from 1916 to 1922. 12 | Reporting on Public Opinion in Great Britain, France, and Italy under fierce attack—the Saturday Review asks this week, “Is there a Government ?”—there seems no likelihood of an early overturn. Murray is as close as anyone to Mr. Asquith8 ; indeed, had a talk with him yesterday. Asquith will not attack Lloyd George personally though feeling that George has treated him badly. The only reference he has heard him make to George personally was that he was “a man of somewhat rapid curves.” It is now Asquith’s view, as it is that of Professor Murray, that until the coming German offensive is over, and the Russian situation9 clears up, all forces must stick together. Professor Murray says that the Asquith liberals are genuinely accepting the Wilson program; and in this they are supported all the way down by the labor and radical groups. (This I shall hope to verify later.) He told me that the Labour Party is rapidly gaining strength, even though it lacks experienced political leadership. In case of an election they will have candidates for as many as three hundred seats. Professor Murray plainly agrees with the view I have heard expressed everywhere that the war as it affects England is now at its lowest ebb: the Russian situation, the coming German offensive in the west (which no one fears, but which everyone regards as serious), the shipbuilding situation, which is admittedly bad, and the closely related food shortage which, while it is being bravely met, gives concern. There is widespread pessimism; the country is terribly in need of a victory of some kind. No wonder; this is the fourth winter for them of this ghastly struggle! I returned to London this evening. MARCH 12 I plunged into the confusion of the Food Control office and emerged finally with a meat card for two months—which I consider a genuine achievement ! While I was there a woman was loudly protesting that she could get no sugar—had babies—must have sugar. She had filed her application long ago—but no sugar. 8. Herbert Henry Asquith (1852–1958), a Liberal Party leader, was British prime minister from 1908 to 1916. Asquith was prime minister when Great Britain declared war on Germany in August 1914. 9. Russia and Germany had, on March 3, signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, which ended the state of war between the two nations. First Impressions of British Opinion | 13 “Sorry, but I cannot help you. You will simply have to trust in Providence.” “That,” said she instantly, “is what I’ve been doin’ all me life, and never got nothin’ by it!” MARCH 13 Kept my room most of the day, fighting a heavy cold. In the afternoon I went over to Highgate to see Professor Graham Wallas.10 I took a walk with him to see some of the fine old houses of Highgate village and stopped for tea...