ABSTRACT
The early months of 1914 gave little indication of the imminence of catastrophe. Domestic politics were embittered throughout the whole period before the war by difficulties over the Home Rule Bill and the thought of civil war in Ireland was in everyone's mind. On March 26, 1914, a sub-committee of the Committee of Imperial Defence under Asquith's chairmanship was holding its final meeting in the Prime Ministers room in the House of Commons to consider the draft report of the examination, which had started a year before, of the question of invasion. The War Book provided that the Foreign Secretary, as the Minister most closely in touch with the diplomatic situation, should be responsible for advising the Cabinet when precautions were necessary, and that he should warn the Admiralty and War Office beforehand of his intention to do so, in order that everything might be got ready.
