- Lord Beauchamp calculated that there were aboutten . members
of the Cabinet for neutrality. Mr. Lloyd • - George was included in this calculation. Naturally so, 'as lie had informed the Cabinet that he had been consult- ing the Governor and Deputy-Governor of the Bank of England and other men of light and leading in the City and' induitrial magnates, and that they were all aghast at the bare idea of our plunging into war. Lord Morley held that. the only reason against neutrality was that we were supposed to` be committed to France. He could not .'accept that commitment about which he knew ncithingl All that Lord Grey had done to " commit " . . 'us in previous years, as we know from Other sources, was to permit military conversations with France and Belgiuth on the distinct understanding that the British Govern: meat should not be bound in any way. The -subject of the conversations between the soldiers was the right action to take if Gerinany invaded Belgium—surely a wise precaution after the Germans had built the Schlieffen strategic railway -right up to the Belgian frontier ! _ * *
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