2110-3-11-26

2, GARDEN COURT, TEMPLE, E.C.4.

17th November 1921.

My dear John,

Many thanks for sending me advance proofs of your History of the War, dealing with the internal situation of 1915-16.

Of course in a brief summary of this kind dealing with very complicated events it is impossible to cover every detail, and, therefore, I would not pin myself to your version as an inspired part of Holy Writ. But I am sure that it represents the truth roughly, and therefore I have no quarrel with it.

The only point of great importance where my experience disagrees with you is on the matter of Lloyd George's intentions towards Asquith. There was no deliberate intention on George's part to force Asquith out if he would accept George's terms. I feel sure that George would have been perfectly content to leave Asquith the titular supremacy as long as he was allowed to run the war, and not to be held up (rightly or wrongly) by the Generals and the Imperial Staff.

With very best wishes,

Yours ever,

Max Beaverbrook

Colonel John Buchan.

[pencil note:]

[Fortescue ?] Write to Walker, [Manu ?]