Dulce et Decorum Est: 1917

Abstract

There were political conflicts and demands for peace in many belligerent countries in 1917. Lloyd George was repeatedly challenged to state the Allies’ war aims. Suspicion grew that the war now had more to do with trade rivalry than with liberating Europe. In March came news of the Russian Revolution and the abdication of the Czar, events warmly welcomed by British intellectuals. A huge meeting held at the Albert Hall to congratulate Russia heard calls for the end of British rule in Ireland and India, and even for the end of the monarchy. There were Socialist mutinies in Germany and Italy later in the year, but hopes for the fall of the Kaiser were disappointed. The Albert Hall meeting at least showed that free speech was still possible, although occasional clampdowns were causing trouble. Export of The Nation was banned in April, officially because the magazine had been exploited by German propaganda but actually because it had called for peace negotiations. Strong objections to the ban were made by Churchill, G. K. Chesterton, Wells, Bennett, Shaw and many others (it was lifted in October). Hints emerged from Germany at various times during the war that negotiations would be welcome, but their reliability was much debated; there was never any clear sign that the German leadership was willing to consider evacuating Belgium.