No Conscription Fellowship

AGAINST THE WAR - introduction		CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION IN
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Keir Hardie MP for West Ham South, speaking at a mass peace rally in Trafalgar Square just 2 days before Britain declared war. People were not as enthusiatic about war is is usualy suggested.
Then as now most people were complacent about foreign affairs knowing little about the politicking and wheeling and dealing by the government, bankers, indusrialist and the military. The war when it came however did not come as a surprise to everyone and certainly not to those who warned of the dangers for years.		Public opinion was divided over the war at the time, many wondering why Britain should get involved in a war rooted in the Balkans and Eastern Europe. Labour politicians like Hardie were vehemently opposed to the war, many were out-right pacifists while others opposed involvement in this specific conflict. Liberals were divided – which was particularly important as they were the government of the day, led by H.H. Asquith. Attorney-General (and Walthamstow MP) Sir John Simon threatened to resign if Britain entered the war, but was talked out of it by Asquith. ss
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