ABSTRACT
Mr. Reydleigh's Government had been succeeded by a Liberal Cabinet headed by Sir Arthur Macmore. The Prime Minister asked the Germans for an armistice, so that the opinion of the country could be taken upon the important question of peace. But the enemy would not grant a minute’s delay. Public feeling on the subject was divided. People who had property in London wished the conflict to be ended at any price, no matter how great, as long as they did not suffer personal loss. Others, who either had no property near the area of conflict, or had nothing to lose elsewhere, wished the struggle to continue to the bitter end. Political feeling ran high. Mobs paraded the streets with banners shouting patriotic songs. These came into collision with others who clamoured for peace, and energy, which should have been used against the common foe, was wasted in fratricidal strife.
