[11] On 10 March of the following year, Mr. Asquith, replying to a
question in the Commons from Lord Hugh Cecil, denied that England was
under an "obligation arising owing to an assurance given by the Ministry
in the course of diplomatic negotiations, to send a very large armed
force out of this country to operate in Europe." On 24 March, he made
similar denials in reply to questions from Sir W. Byles and Mr. King. On
14 April, Mr. Runciman, in a speech at Birkenhead, denied "in the most
categorical way" the existence of a secret understanding with any
foreign Power! On 3 May, the Secretary for the Colonies, Mr. Harcourt,
declared publicly that he "could conceive no circumstances in which
Continental operations would not be a crime against the people of this
country." On 28 June, the under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Mr.
Acland, declared publicly that "in no European question were we
concerned to interfere with a big army." On 1 July, Lord Loreburn, Lord
Chancellor from 1906 to 1912, said "that any British Government would be
so guilty towards our country as to take up arms in a foreign quarrel is
more than I can believe." On 28 April, 1914, and again on 11 June, Sir
E. Grey confirmed, in the House of Commons, Mr. Asquith's assertion,
made 10 and 24 March, 1913, of British freedom from engagements with
Continental Powers.
Yet, curiously the professions of politicians are still trusted, and
people still expect something from their machinations; they expected
something substantial from the recent conference in Washington, on the
limitation of armaments, for instance--a striking and pathetic example
of the strength of superstition.