December 4th, 1916.
Secret
My dear Lloyd George,
Such productions as the first leading article in to-day’s Times, showing the infinite possibilities for misunderstanding and misrepresentation of such an arrangement as we considered yesterday, make me at least doubtful as to its feasibility. Unless the impression is at once corrected that I am being relegated to the position of an irresponsible spectator of the war, I cannot possibly go on.
The suggested arrangement was to the following effect. The Prime Minister to have supreme and effective control of War Policy.
The agenda of the War Committee will be submitted to him; its Chairman will report to him daily; he can direct it to consider particular topics or proposals; and all its conclusions will be subject to his approval or veto. He can, of course, at his own discretion attend meetings of the Committee.
Yours sincerely,
(Sd.) H. H. Asquith.
War Office, Whitehall, S.W.
December 4th, 1916.