ABSTRACT
A sub-committee of the Labour Party’s Executive was, indeed, soon busy on plans, to attract into the Labour Party, the considerable Radical elements, discontented alike with Lloyd George and Asquith. As Beatrice Webb realized, the actual strength of the Labour Party could be greatly exaggerated by those who neglected its tumultuous cross-currents and the fact that, as “the new thing”, it might be attracting some support that would not prove lasting. Programme-construction of this type appeared very much to the point when the great Western Front battles of 1917 had been brought to a standstill by the oncome of winter and when major peace-negotiations seemed under way at Brest-Litovsk. But signs and portents began multiplying fairly early in 1918 that the German authorities considered that another great military effort from themselves would be necessary before they could hope to have what they deemed a tolerable peace.
