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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 13 October 2009
The significance of the Carlton Club revolt was that it formally destroyed the Coalition without exorcising the menacing spectre of coalitionism. When Lloyd George resigned on the afternoon of 19 October 1922 he was followed into the wilderness by some of the most experienced and talented Conservative politicians of the age. This group subsequently established their collective position in the form of a manifesto to the press reaffirming their loyalty to Lloyd George, with whom ‘there had been no difference be it … on matters of principle or policy’, and portentously warning that ‘other men who had given other counsels must inherit our burden and discharge its consequent responsibilities’. Thereafter, when initial hopes that Law would not obtain an absolutely majority were extinguished, the Chamberlainites took refuge in pique that appeared almost inexhaustible. Under Birkenhead's effective strategic direction, the objective was to present the Chamberlainites as a coherent alternative leadership for the Conservative Party: a strategy founded upon the firm and constant conviction that incompetents and ‘second class brains’ could not rule empires. Given time, Birkenhead believed, the Law government would engineer its own humiliation and downfall. Abstinence from office in the short-term was thus merely a prelude to permanent anti-socialist coalition. In the interim they considered it sufficient to stand aloof to avoid being tainted with the opprobrium of their successors and to pour derision upon the ‘second class brains’ who had succeeded them.
1 The Times, 20 10 1922Google Scholar signed by Chamberlain and twelve other former ministers.
2 Lord Riddell Diary, 15 January 1923 reporting Birkenhead, Lord Riddett's Intimate Diary, 400Google Scholar. Also Joan to Eddy [Balfour] n.d. (late October 1922) Whittinghame MSS 76. (National Register of Archives, Scotland).
3 See Birkenhead at Glasgow, The Times, 30 10 1922Google Scholar for the first use of the phrase. For Chamberlain's advice to ‘go away and play’, leaving the government to ‘stew in its own juice’ see Ruth Lee Diary, 2 February 1923, Clark, A. (ed), A Good Innings, 236.Google Scholar
4 Thorpe, D.R., The Uncrowned Prime Ministers, 75Google Scholar. Petrie also notes that Chamberlain took this reverse ‘philosophically’, life and Letters, II, 204.Google Scholar
5 C.P. Scott Diary, 6 December 1922, Scott MSS 50907 fol. 208.
6 Chamberlain, A. to Cazalet, V., 11 1922Google Scholar, James, R.R.Victor Cazakt: A Portrait (1976), 89Google Scholar; Chamberlain, A. to Ida, , 21 11 1922Google Scholar, AC5/1/252.
7 Derby Diary, 23 November 1922; N. Chamberlain to Ida, 18 February 1923, NC 18/1/382; Pollock memorandum, ‘The Fall of the Coalition …’ Hanworth MSS d.432/163.
8 Amery to Law, 31 October 1922 Law MSS 108/1/28 reporting N. Chamberlain; Neville Chamberlain Diary, 22 October 1922.
9 Frances Stevenson Diary, 13 July 1935, Taylor, A.J.P. (ed), Lloyd George: A Diary, 311.Google Scholar
10 Hankey Diary 21 October 1922, Hankey MSS 1/6.
11 Chamberlain, A. to Hilda, , 21 01 1923Google Scholar; AC5/1/257.
12 Chamberlain, A. to Ida, , 3 12 1922Google Scholar, AC5/1/254.
13 George, Lloyd to Stevenson, Frances, 14 01 1923Google Scholar, Taylor, A.J.P. (ed) My Darling Pussy: The Letters of Lloyd George and Frances Stevenson, 1913–41, (1975), 56–7Google Scholar.
14 Chamberlain, A. to Hilda, , 21 01 1923Google Scholar, AC5/1/257.
15 A. Murray to Lord Reading, 7 March 1923, Murray MSS 8808/156. Also Salvidge Diary, October 1922, Salsidge of Liverpool, 238.Google Scholar
16 See, for example, Esher to Hankey, 21 November 1922, Hankey MSS 4/14/11; Hankey Diary, 9, 10, 26 November 1922; Headlam Diary 13 February 1923, Headlam MSS D/He/19 fol.44; Davidson to Stamfordham, 21 February 1923, Davidson MSS (House of Lords Record Office).
17 Birmingham Post, ‘London Letter’, 20, 21 02 1923.Google Scholar
18 See Gleanings and Memoranda, LVII, 04 1923, 318–326Google Scholar; and memorandum in Law MSS 117/6/2.
19 Fisher Diary, 10 April 1923 (Bodleian Library Oxford).
20 Hankey to his wife, 5 March 1923. Also Sanders Diary 11 March 1923; Hewins Diary, 6,7, March 1923, Hewins MSS 199/44 (Sheffield University Library).
21 Chamberlain at Birmingham, Birmingham Post, 14 10 1922.Google Scholar
22 Pollock memorandum ‘The Fall of the Coalition …’ Hanworth MSS d.432/173–4.
23 See Sanders Diary, 2 March 1923. Also A. Chamberlain to the Editor, The Times, 2 03 1923.Google Scholar
24 Neville Chamberlain Diary, 8 March 1923.
25 Chamberlain, A. to Hilda, , 14 04 1923Google Scholar, AC5/1/270. These approaches were probably not sactioned by Law. See Chamberlain, A. to Chamberlain, N., 22 04 1923Google Scholar, NC 1/27/69 and Neville Chamberlain Diary, 26 April 1923.
26 Locker-Lampson, O. to Chamberlain, A. 8 02 1923Google Scholar, AC 24/5/6.
27 Chamberlain, A. to Pollock, E.M., 21 05 1923Google Scholar, Hanworth MSS 0.946/69. Also Chamberlain, A. to Worthington-Evans, L., 24 05 1923Google Scholar, Worthington-Evans MSS c.894/15–16, 24–27. (Bodleian Library Oxford).
28 See Self, R.C., ‘Conservative Reunion and the General Election of 1923: A Reassessment’, Twentieth Century British History, 3·3 (1992), 262–265.Google Scholar
29 Neville Chamberlain Diary, I June 1923. Also A. Chamberlain to N. Chamberlain, 1 June 1923, AC35/1/37; Crawford Diary, 26 May 1923 reporting him ‘white with fury’. Vincent, J. (ed), The Crawford Papers, 484.Google Scholar
30 Also Chamberlain, A. to Chamberlain, N., 30 08 1923Google Scholar, NC 1/27/74.
31 Amery Diary, 18 June 1924, The Leo Amery Diaries, 377.Google Scholar
32 Chamberlain, A. to Dugdale, B., 11 11 1929Google Scholar, Dugdale, B.E.C., Arthur James Balfour, (2 vols, 1936), I, 343.Google Scholar
33 For this conflict see Self, R.C., Tories and Tariffs: The Conservative Party and the Politics of Tariff Reform, 1922–32 (London and New York 1986), 178–9Google Scholar. See also Diary, C.P. Scott, 23 10 1923Google Scholar, Scott MSS 50906 fol. 197.
34 Chamberlain, A. to Chamberlain, N., 15 10 1923Google Scholar, AC35/3/9.
35 Chamberlain, A. to Carnegie, Mary, 21 10 1923Google Scholar, AC5/1/1233.
36 Chamberlain, A. to Chamberlain, N. 24 10 1923Google Scholar, NC 1/27/74.
37 Fisher Diary, 15 November 1923; A. Chamberlain to L.S. Amery 31 October 1923, AC35/3/1.
38 A. Chamberlain at Birmingham Conservative Club, Birmingham Daily Post, 30 10 1923Google Scholar; also to Neville 29 October 1923, AC35/3/12.
39 See Self, R.C., ‘Conservative Reunion and the General Election of 1923: A Reassessment’, Twentieth Century British History, 3.3, 249–273.Google Scholar
40 ‘Events of Sunday-Monday 11–12 November 1923; AC35/3/216.
41 The dinner on 30 November held in Chamberlain's honour was attended by fortynine MPs, AC33/2/148 — one of several such demonstrations of Chamberlainite unity. There had been a hastily arranged dinner four days after their resignation at the Victoria Hotel, The Times, 24 10 1922Google Scholar and another ostensibly in honour of Balfour in March. For an account of this meeting and a list of those present see Law MSS 115/2.
42 Poincaré attended the London Conference between 9–11 December 1922 where he rejected an offer of German treasury bills to meet instalments of Reparation payments.
43 Despite British efforts to avert it, at French insistence the Reparations Commission declared Germany in default on deliveries of timber and coal. On 11 January 1923 French and Belgian troops occupied the Ruhr ostensibly to obtain ‘productive pledges’ for future delivery.
44 The first Lausanne conference convened to reach a new peace with Turkey from 20 November 1922–4 February 1923.
45 Henry Lee Warner: Chamberlain's House Master at Rugby and a great personal influence.
46 At Willesden East on 3 March George Stanley, a junior Home Office Minister, transformed a 1319 majority in 1922 into a Liberal majority of 5176. On the same day Griffith-Boscawen turned a 5036 Conservative majority in 1922 into a 833 Labour majority at Mitcham. Three days later at Edgehill Major J.W. Hills transformed a majority of 4666 into a Labour majority of 1050.
47 Lt-Col George Frederick Stanley (1872–1938) Conservative MP for Preston, January 1910–November 1922 when defeated. Unsuccessfully contested Willesden East in March and December 1923 but elected October 1924–April 1929. Comptroller of the Household 1919–21; Financial Secretary War Office 1921–22; Under-Secretary for Home Affairs 1922–1923 when resigned after by-election defeat. Parliamentary Secretary Minister of Pensions 1924–1929; Governor of Madras 1929–34.
48 A. Chamberlain to the Editor, The Times, 2 03 1923Google Scholar. In the letter he was critical of government proposals for the decontrol of rents. In Labour hands, this certainly harmed Boscawen – as was intended.
49 After Horne refused to accept Boscawen's vacant portfolio, Neville Chamberlain became Minister of Health on 8 March 1923 on condition that he had the freedom to reconsider the policy on rent control.
50 Admiral Sir (William) Reginald Hall (1870–1943) Naval career 1883–1919. Director of Naval Intelligence 1914–19. Conservative MP for Liverpool West Derby February 1919–December 1923, Eastbourne June 1925–May 1929. ‘Blinker’ Hall had been a Diehard during the Coalition. Principal Agent of Unionist Party 1923–24. Created CB 1915; Rear Admiral 1917; Vice Admiral 1922; Admiral 1926.
51 Sir Campbell Stuart (1885–1972) Civil Servant. Served in Washington, 1917. Deputy Director of Propaganda in Enemy Countries, 1918. Managing Editor, Daily Mail 1921; Director of The Times 1919–1960Google Scholar; Managing Director 1920–4. Chairman Imperial Communications Advisory Committee and its successor 1933–45. Director of Propaganda in Enemy Countries, 1939–40.
52 Archibald Boyd-Carpenter (1873–1937) Conservative MP for N. Bradford December 1918–December 1923; Coventry 1924–29; Chertsey October 1931–May 1937. Parliamentary Secretary Minister of Labour 1922–1923; Financial Secretary to Treasury 1923; Paymaster-General 1923–1924; Financial Secretary to Admiralty 1923–1924. Created Knight Bachelor 1926. A Diehard during the Coalition.
53 On 9 April 1923 the government had been defeated through sheer inexperience on the employment of ex-servicemen.
54 Ernest Murray Pollock (1861–1936) Unsuccessfully stood as a Liberal-Unionist in 1900 and 1906. Conservative MP for Warwick and Leamington, 1910–23. Solicitor-General 1919–1922; Attorney-General 1922; Master of the Rolls 1923–35. Created K.B.E. 1917, baronet 1922, Baron Hanworth 1926 and Viscount Hanworth 1936. A close friend and associate of Austen Chamberlain.
55 (Clement) Anderson Montagu-Barlow (1868–1951) Conservative MP for Salford (South) 1910–23. Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Labour 1920–1922; Minister of Labour 1922–1924. Created K.B.E. 1918 and baronet 1924. Chairman, Royal Commission on Location of Industry, 1937–40.
56 Chamberlain both spoke and paired against the government over the clause to remove the need to notify transfers of property to the Land Valuation Department in the Third Reading of the Finance Bill. His savage attack on McKenna during the Report Stage on 3 July was also intended to show that ‘he was not hankering for office’, AC to Birkenhead, 6 July 1923 AC35/2/22.
57 The second Lausanne Conference, 24 April–24 July 1923, securing the demilitarization of the straits and restoration of Anglo-Turkish unity, was hailed generally as a great victory for Curzon.
58 After the early by-election reverses McKenna had made his acceptance of the Treasury conditional on his health improving and a safe seat being found in the City of London but the Diehard Sir Frederick Banbury (1850–1936) refused to make way for a Liberal in a seat he had held since 1906 although he retired in January 1924 as Baron Banbury. McKenna withdrew claiming he was not fit to take office on 13 August 1923.
59 Robert Arthur Sanders (1867–1940) Conservative MP for Bridgwater 1910–23 and Somerset (Wells) 1924–29. Whip 1911–21; Deputy Conservative Chairman 1918–22. Under-Secretary for War April 1921–October 1922; Minister of Agriculture 1922–January 1924. Created baronet 1920 and Baron Bayford 1929.
60 ‘La Haute Politique’, Punch 17 October 1923 p363. The cartoon attracted wide attention. See for example Dawson's comments, Wrench, J.E., Geoffrey Dawson and our Times, 221.Google Scholar
61 Col. John Gretton (1867–1947) Brewer and Chairman of Bass, Ratcliffe & Gretton, Burton-on-Trent. Conservative MP for S. Derbyshire 1895–1906; Rutland June 1907–November 1918; Burton December 1918–1943. Created CBE 1919, Baron Gretton 1944. Renounced Conservative whip in July 1921 when negotiations began with de Valera. Leader of the Diehards in the Commons.
62 A reference to Joseph Chamberlain's speech launching tariff reform at Glasgow, 6 October 1903.
63 Law had died from throat cancer on 30 October 1923.
64 Worthington-Evans made this speech at Huddersfield on 30 October not Halifax.
65 Ronald McNeill (1861–1934) Conservative MP for St Augustines, Kent July 1911–1918 and Canterbury December 1918–October 1927. Under-Secretary to Foreign Office 1922–1924 and 1924–1925; Financial Secretary to Treasury 1925–1927; Chancellor Duchy of Lancaster 1927–1929. Created Baron Cushenden. A Diehard.
66 William George Arthur Ormsby-Gore (1885–1964) Conservative MP for Denbigh 1910–18 and Stafford 1918–38. Under-Secretary to Colonies 1922–1924 and 1924–1929; Postmaster-General 1931; First Commissioner of Works 1931–1936; Colonial Secretary 1936–1938. High Commissioner to South Africa 1941–44. Succeeded as 4th Baron Harlech May 1938.
67 Francis Stanley Jackson (1870–1947) Played cricket for Yorkshire 1894–1905. Conservative MP for Howdenshire, February 1915–October 1926. Financial Secretary to War Office 1922–1923. Chairman of Conservative Party 1923–1926. Governor of Bengal 1927–32. Although not a Diehard voted against Coalition on several Diehard motions in 1922.