A note ahead: I suck at writing speeches, I hop no one mids that I am borrowing the work of others for this. Also please forgive me any errors in the parliamentary procedures I surely made.
October 4, 1938
The House of Commons, London
The Speaker of the House called the Members of Parliament to order. “The honourable Neville Chamberlain has the floor.” Chamberlain took up position in front of the other MP's and started to speak in a unusually sure and thick voice. “The last weeks have seen dangerous developments on the continent. You can imagine what a bitter blow it is to me that all my long struggle to win peace may fail. Yet I cannot believe that there is anything more, or anything different, that I could have done, and that would have been more successful. Up to the very last it will be the will of this administration to arrange a peaceful and honourable settlement between Germany and her neighbours. But certain political figures here at home in the United Kingdom will not have it; they have evidently made up their minds to lead Britain onto a course to a new War whatever happens. And although they say now that they want peace as much as I and my ministers do this not a true statement. The other factions not only here in the house but also in my own Party seek to push Britain into a war for which she is not ready and that no one wants. At this point Chamberlain was interrupted by a score of “Hear Hears” from all around the chamber, not only backbenchers from the Conservative Party but also many from the opposition were obviously not exactly of the same opinion. Chamberlain did not deviate from his speech, refusing to let this behaviour destroy his plan and confidence.
He concluded: “How horrible, fantastic, incredible it is that we should be digging trenches and trying on gas-masks here because of a quarrel in a far away country between people of whom we know nothing. It seems still more impossible that a quarrel which has already been settled in principle should be the subject of war.” The members of the house conversed in hush voices. They had expected a pacifist and yet defiant speech like this, but had not expected Chamberlain to belittle the European troubles like this, and with this Chamberlain had already lost even more votes. While many of the Members were against involvement in a new war most were gravely concerned about what went on in Europe in these troubled times. When the Speaker called them to order everyone hotly awaited the next one to take the floor. It was widely expected that Winston Churchill would be the next one to speak but before the speaker could talk David Lloyd George interrupted. Unknowing that this would be his last public appearance Britains Prime Minister during the great War said: “It is not a question of who is for war or not. It is a far bigger issue. Europe has appealed for our help. The nation is prepared for every help ans sacrifices it can give so long as it has leadership. I say solemnly that the Prime Minister should give an example of sacrifice because there is nothing which can contribute more to a honourable solution of this affair than that he should sacrifice the seals of office.” This time Chamberlain was stunned. He had expected resistance and trouble from the hawkish Members, but the thought that someone other than Churchill might openly call for his resignation had never even crossed his mind.
The next man on the floor was indeed Churchill. He too had only prepared a short speech, as he like Chamberlain wanted to get the entire debate over with as soon as possible.
“Never believe any war will be smooth and easy or that anyone who embarks on that strange voyage can measure the tides and hurricanes he will encounter. The statesman who yields to war fever must realize that once the signal is given, he is no longer the master of policy but the slave of unforeseeable and uncontrollable events incompetent or arrogant commanders, untrustworthy allies, hostile neutrals, malignant fortune, ugly surprise, awful miscalculations. Always remember, however sure you are that you could easily win, that there would not be a war if the other man did not think he also had a chance. It is therefore obvious that I do not desire war. Quite the contrary. I would gladly give my office and my life if this sacrifice would make sure that war never again touched our shores. War is evil, war is the foulest of all Human sins. I do however believe that if one wants peace one must be prepared for War. I do believe that a nation like ours which holds its principles and policies so high like we do must from time to time take a stand against tyranny and oppression in order to show itself worthy of these ideals.*Many years ago Britain fought the Great War alongside our gallant French allies to uphold these principles and now many of us are prepared to forget these just because there is a remote chance that war will once more break out. I fear that our current leadership is amongst these. I ask the members of Parliament to decide what to do to rectify this situation.”
Churchill took his seat again and was prepared to give the word to Attlee, the leader of the opposition when Leo Amery, a prominent Conservative backbencher interrupted the process once again. He turned to the Government bench and said: “We all know what needs to be done about it. Prime Minister: You have sat too long here for any good you have been doing. Depart, I say, and let us have done with you. In the name of God, go!” When the speaker of the House called Attlee the called upon simply stated that the opposition felt that the Prime Minister no longer had the confidence of the house and that the Labour Opposition wished to call for a vote of censure on the Government. Chamberlain was caught off-guard. He had not expected for this to take place before the second day of the debate and now it was here already. A vote was called and when the results were announced the house was vibrant. Chamberlain no longer had the majority necessary to form an Administration.
Later that day the King sent for a new Prime Minister. Even later that day a signal was sent by the Board of the Admiralty to all ships and stations. It contained only three words: “Winston is back.”
[Game effects: Neville is out, Winston is in. Now Britain can start arming herself for the inevitable storm. The end is a bit forced but it was 2:48 AM when I wrote this.]
October 4, 1938
The House of Commons, London
The Speaker of the House called the Members of Parliament to order. “The honourable Neville Chamberlain has the floor.” Chamberlain took up position in front of the other MP's and started to speak in a unusually sure and thick voice. “The last weeks have seen dangerous developments on the continent. You can imagine what a bitter blow it is to me that all my long struggle to win peace may fail. Yet I cannot believe that there is anything more, or anything different, that I could have done, and that would have been more successful. Up to the very last it will be the will of this administration to arrange a peaceful and honourable settlement between Germany and her neighbours. But certain political figures here at home in the United Kingdom will not have it; they have evidently made up their minds to lead Britain onto a course to a new War whatever happens. And although they say now that they want peace as much as I and my ministers do this not a true statement. The other factions not only here in the house but also in my own Party seek to push Britain into a war for which she is not ready and that no one wants. At this point Chamberlain was interrupted by a score of “Hear Hears” from all around the chamber, not only backbenchers from the Conservative Party but also many from the opposition were obviously not exactly of the same opinion. Chamberlain did not deviate from his speech, refusing to let this behaviour destroy his plan and confidence.
He concluded: “How horrible, fantastic, incredible it is that we should be digging trenches and trying on gas-masks here because of a quarrel in a far away country between people of whom we know nothing. It seems still more impossible that a quarrel which has already been settled in principle should be the subject of war.” The members of the house conversed in hush voices. They had expected a pacifist and yet defiant speech like this, but had not expected Chamberlain to belittle the European troubles like this, and with this Chamberlain had already lost even more votes. While many of the Members were against involvement in a new war most were gravely concerned about what went on in Europe in these troubled times. When the Speaker called them to order everyone hotly awaited the next one to take the floor. It was widely expected that Winston Churchill would be the next one to speak but before the speaker could talk David Lloyd George interrupted. Unknowing that this would be his last public appearance Britains Prime Minister during the great War said: “It is not a question of who is for war or not. It is a far bigger issue. Europe has appealed for our help. The nation is prepared for every help ans sacrifices it can give so long as it has leadership. I say solemnly that the Prime Minister should give an example of sacrifice because there is nothing which can contribute more to a honourable solution of this affair than that he should sacrifice the seals of office.” This time Chamberlain was stunned. He had expected resistance and trouble from the hawkish Members, but the thought that someone other than Churchill might openly call for his resignation had never even crossed his mind.
The next man on the floor was indeed Churchill. He too had only prepared a short speech, as he like Chamberlain wanted to get the entire debate over with as soon as possible.
“Never believe any war will be smooth and easy or that anyone who embarks on that strange voyage can measure the tides and hurricanes he will encounter. The statesman who yields to war fever must realize that once the signal is given, he is no longer the master of policy but the slave of unforeseeable and uncontrollable events incompetent or arrogant commanders, untrustworthy allies, hostile neutrals, malignant fortune, ugly surprise, awful miscalculations. Always remember, however sure you are that you could easily win, that there would not be a war if the other man did not think he also had a chance. It is therefore obvious that I do not desire war. Quite the contrary. I would gladly give my office and my life if this sacrifice would make sure that war never again touched our shores. War is evil, war is the foulest of all Human sins. I do however believe that if one wants peace one must be prepared for War. I do believe that a nation like ours which holds its principles and policies so high like we do must from time to time take a stand against tyranny and oppression in order to show itself worthy of these ideals.*Many years ago Britain fought the Great War alongside our gallant French allies to uphold these principles and now many of us are prepared to forget these just because there is a remote chance that war will once more break out. I fear that our current leadership is amongst these. I ask the members of Parliament to decide what to do to rectify this situation.”
Churchill took his seat again and was prepared to give the word to Attlee, the leader of the opposition when Leo Amery, a prominent Conservative backbencher interrupted the process once again. He turned to the Government bench and said: “We all know what needs to be done about it. Prime Minister: You have sat too long here for any good you have been doing. Depart, I say, and let us have done with you. In the name of God, go!” When the speaker of the House called Attlee the called upon simply stated that the opposition felt that the Prime Minister no longer had the confidence of the house and that the Labour Opposition wished to call for a vote of censure on the Government. Chamberlain was caught off-guard. He had not expected for this to take place before the second day of the debate and now it was here already. A vote was called and when the results were announced the house was vibrant. Chamberlain no longer had the majority necessary to form an Administration.
Later that day the King sent for a new Prime Minister. Even later that day a signal was sent by the Board of the Admiralty to all ships and stations. It contained only three words: “Winston is back.”
[Game effects: Neville is out, Winston is in. Now Britain can start arming herself for the inevitable storm. The end is a bit forced but it was 2:48 AM when I wrote this.]
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