ABSTRACT
In November 1916, the atmosphere in the Government, as in London itself in that gloomy season, was becoming daily more sulphureous. There was friction everywhere in the Cabinet, the War Committee, the Admiralty, the War Office and in Parliament. Nothing particularly sensational was happening at sea except the daily sensation of the loss of some hundreds or even thousands of tons of shipping. The Admiralty were told to confer with the Ministry of Munitions on the subject, and in mid-November the War Committee took the decision in principle that the provision of guns for merchant ships should be a first charge on the artillery resources. On December 6th, the King saw Asquith, Lloyd George, Bonar Law and Balfour together, but did not succeed in effecting a reconcilation, and on December 7th, his Majesty sent for Lloyd George, who undertook to form a Government. The First Coalition Government was at an end. The Supreme Command had passed to other hands.
