action which he believed was everywhere necessary.
Decisions were taken too late and were not carried out with promptitude
or thoroughness.

For months Lloyd George was in a state of simmering revolt. He
received support from powerful organs in the press, notably from the
_Times_ and _Daily Mail_. The tone of their criticism is best
summarized in the suggestion that Mr. Asquith was "an amiable old
gentleman," unfitted for the position of leader of a nation at war for
its life. Far less than justice was accorded him, but under the stress
of war the most stolid people became impatient, and there was
undoubtedly manifested in many sections of the public a desire for more
strenuous leadership. The difficulties with which Mr. Asquith had had
to contend were certainly not fully appreciated, though they will be
later on. He was the head of a Coalition Government, and had kept that
Government together with a managing skill to which everybody paid
tribute. The claim of the Lloyd George supporters was that qualities
different from those required for the skilful handling of a Government
were necessary in a war Prime Minister. It looks as if Lloyd George
shared this opinion. He came to the conclusion that he must make his
stroke. One fateful day he presented to Mr. Asquith an ultimatum to
the effect that the conduct of the war should be placed in the hands of
a small committee of three or four members who should have absolute
power, and that Mr. Asquith himself should not be on it, or, if so,
should be a member in name only.

Mr. Asquith tried to get him to compromise. Lloyd George would have
none of it. If Mr. Asquith would not agree he would resign, he said,
and he was supported by the Conservative members of the Government.
Mr. Asquith and his supporters would not give way. There were one or
two exciting days of secret negotiations, and then, a deadlock being
reached, there was but one course to be pursued, and that was for the
entire Cabinet to place its resignation in the hands of the King. It
must have been a bitter moment for Mr. Asquith. Indeed, it was
probably an unhappy time for Lloyd George. Nevertheless, he flinched
not.

The whole Cabinet went out of office. The King, who is bound by
precedent, sent for the leader of the Conservatives, Mr. Bonar Law, and
offered him the position of Prime Minister and the task of forming a
Government. Owing to the split-up of the parties and the various
cross-curre