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8 - Peace Moves

December 1916–January 1917

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 March 2021

Daniel Larsen
Affiliation:
University of Cambridge
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Summary

With the Asquithian Liberals ejected from office, Lloyd George's new government remained in denial over the severity of Britain's economic problem in the United States. Bonar Law's new responsibilities as Chancellor alerted him to the seriousness of the crisis, but he took no meaningful action. German and American moves for peace came soon after Lloyd George's ascent to power, but the new government simply sought to manoeuvre around them. British intelligence continued to serve Lloyd George poorly, sending him decrypts that again misled Lloyd George into believing that Germany and the United States were secretly collaborating. British intelligence also decrypted the infamous Zimmermann Telegram, but decided not to share it with the government. Arthur Balfour, the new Foreign Secretary, remained extremely anxious about Britain's economic position. He used a British intelligence officer in the United States, William Wiseman, to quietly keep alive the prospect of American mediation with House. House sought new negotiations between Germany and Britain via Wiseman and the German Ambassador. Germany announced a declaration of unrestricted submarine warfare, ending House's negotiations.

Type
Chapter
Information
Plotting for Peace
American Peacemakers, British Codebreakers, and Britain at War, 1914–1917
, pp. 246 - 279
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2021

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  • Peace Moves
  • Daniel Larsen, University of Cambridge
  • Book: Plotting for Peace
  • Online publication: 26 March 2021
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108761833.011
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  • Peace Moves
  • Daniel Larsen, University of Cambridge
  • Book: Plotting for Peace
  • Online publication: 26 March 2021
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108761833.011
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Peace Moves
  • Daniel Larsen, University of Cambridge
  • Book: Plotting for Peace
  • Online publication: 26 March 2021
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108761833.011
Available formats
×