The development of Lord Robert Cecil's views on the securing of a lasting peace, 1915-19

Thesis

Lord Robert Cecil's fame rests on his work in creating and promoting the League of Nations. This thesis is an analysis of the motives and personal attributes which caused him, a Tory politician, to lead a radical movement in foreign policy; it is also an account of his work as a foreign policy maker in this period. Such studies of Cecil as have appeared deal only with his League work; this thesis covers the whole field of his foreign policy work and is based on a detailed study of Foreign Office and Cabinet documents from 1915-19. It has also drawn largely on Cecil's papers at the British Museum, on the Lloyd George papers at the Beaverbrook Library, and on American documentary sources.

The first chapter describes Cecil's upbringing and political life, It shows that he was inspired by the attempts of his father, Lord Salisbury, to find alternatives to war in settling international disputes. It also shows that his upbringing tended to cut him off, later, from political colleagues and caused him to pursue a line of his own, independent of party, His religious faith, also the result of his upbringing, was permanently to affect his political views.

Continued in thesis ... .

Authors: Cecil, HP

• DOI: 10.5287/ora-dakykpyxj
• Type of award: DPhil
• Level of award: Doctoral
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford
• Language: English
• Keywords: Chelwood; Foreign relations; lasting peace; Great Britain; Cecil; peace; League of Nations
• Subjects: Cecil of Chelwood, Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, Viscount, 1864-1958; Great Britain -- Foreign relations -- 1910-1936; League of Nations -- Great Britain