I can conceive that two alternatives, two prepared lines, will
be necessary. The first necessity will arise when the Germans launch their offensive against our own Army and when the people of Great Britain will realise for the first time the true and rapid menace of their might. Even then I should not myself wish to see a coalition formed. That will be the moment for a Cabinet of intensive action, possibly under the leadership of Mr. Churchill, but containing all those dements of vigour which he can summon either from the ranks of the present supporters of the Government, or from active personalities outside. It will only be when this great defensive action has been successfully accomplished, when we have won our Verdun, that the moment for a coalition will have arrived. At that stage the great peace offensive will come upon us with a transatlantic rush and we shall need to unite, not merely the whole energies of the country, but the whole conscience of the world. Only then, to my mind, would it be necessary to exchange the present system of party government, checked and fortified as it is now by constructive criticism from the Opposition, for a Cabinet representing all the leading parties of the State.
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