My Dear Prime Minister,
I have not seen the Times’ article. But I hope you will not attach undue importance to these effusions. I have had these misrepresentations to put up with for months. Northcliffe frankly wants a smash. Derby and I do not. Northcliffe would like to make this and any other rearrangement under your Premiership impossible. Derby and I attach great importance to your retaining your present position—effectively. I cannot restrain, or, I fear, influence Northcliffe. I fully accept in letter and in spirit your summary of the suggested arrangement—subject, of course, to personnel.
Ever sincerely,
(Sd.) D. Lloyd George.
10 Downing Street, Whitehall, S.W.
December 4th, 1916
Secret
My dear Lloyd George,
Thank you for your letter of this morning.
The King gave me to-day authority to ask and accept the resignation of all my colleagues, and to form a new Government on such lines as I should submit to him. I start therefore with a clean slate.