Regular readers will know of my admiration for the late Sir Edward Grey who, probably more than any other politician of his day, moved this country towards war with a Germany he recognised, to use today's jargon, as a 'rogue state'. Others will curse his memory in the belief that Britain taking part in WWI was an atrocious act of folly which led to the greatest mass tragedy in our history. I disagree, or to be precise, I disagree with the accusation of folly, although I endorse the fact of the tragedy - whilst insisting that the alternative would have been worse. Anyway, courtesy of Daniel Hannan in The Telegraph, I can offer you this extract from Hansard which covers Sir Edward's speech to the House just prior to the declaration of war. I cannot emphasize enough the sublety of Sir Edward's approach in the days, weeks, months and years before this culminating moment. He knew, long before most, that Germany was a perpetual menace to the peace of Europe and he understood the grand strategic imperative for us to ensure that both France and Belgium (and Holland!) remained free of German hegemony. But, he also knew and understood the propriety of his position in regard to parliament, that is, that he must not, could not, commit this country to war without final approval from the House of Commons, he was its servant not its master! Hence, all his diplomatic (and military) manouvres, mostly with the French, leading up to this day of decision were always hedged about with 'get out' clauses. This incensed the French who looked for certainty from their 'ally' and were deeply suspicious that perhaps 'perfidious Albion' was up to its usual tricks. They were wrong as far as Sir Edward was concerned, he remained absolute in his belief that France must be helped even, or perhaps especially, in the case of war with Germany. And yet . . . and yet . . . always he was aware that he could not commit this country to war without the consent of parliament. This speech delivered on the eve of war amounts to exactly that plea for consent. Clear, concise, undramatic but, I feel, imbued with great underlying passion, it represents one of those truly decisive days in our history.
http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1914/aug/03/statement-by-sir-edward-grey