Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-s2hrs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-18T06:21:11.539Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

‘The times make everything extremely difficult’: The Treasury, January 1919 – April 1921

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 October 2009

Extract

Chamberlain emerged from the government reshuffle which followed the ‘Coupon’ election as Chancellor of the Exchequer. In many respects the appointment appears unremarkable given his past experience and reputation. His first tenure of the office had been in October 1903 in the immediate aftermath of his father's departure from the Balfour Cabinet. Although only a few days from his fortieth birthday and widely regarded as a ‘hostage for Joe’, he soon proved himself to be a capable minister. During this period a future Permanent Secretary at the department ‘thought highly’ of him as a ‘hard worker and good official’. Walter Long went even further in contending that he was ‘without exception the best Chancellor of the Exchequer he ha[d] ever worked with’ After leading the opposition to Lloyd George's 1909 budget, even former detractors were obliged to concede that Chamberlain was ‘in the first rank as a debater and as a leader’ It was a measure of this stature that at the outbreak of war in 1914 Lloyd George had invited him to attend the Financial Conference assembled to tackle the initial emergency. On one occasion the Chancellor had even asked Chamberlain to preside while he attended a Cabinet meeting. Although Lloyd George later presented this unique occurrence as ‘a foretaste of the Coalition’, others rejoiced that Chamberlain was ‘practically acting as chancellor of the exchequer’ because Lloyd George, ‘who knows very little of finance, has completely lost his head’: a preference initially echoed within the Treasury itself.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Historical Society 1995

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1 SirMackintosh, Alexander, Echoes of Big Ben, 47.Google Scholar

2 Masterman Diary, 12 October 1910 [?], reporting Sir Robert Chalmers, Chairman of the Board of Inland Revenue 1907–11 and Permanent Secretary to the Treasury 1911–13, Masterman, L., C.F.G. Masterman: A Biography, 177.Google Scholar

3 Crawford Diary, 6 July 1905, Vincent, John (ed) The Crawford Papers. The Journal of David Lindsay twenty-seventh Earl of Crawford and tenth Earl of Balcarres 1871–1940 during the years 1892 to 1940, (Manchester, 1984), 80Google Scholar. Also Winterton, Earl, Orders of the Day, (1953), 8.Google Scholar

4 Churchill to the King, 9 April 1910, Churchill, R.S., Winston S. Churchill II, Young Statesman, 1901–1914Google Scholar, Companion 2, 1005.

5 George, D. Lloyd, The War Memoirs of David Lloyd George, 106.Google Scholar

6 Lord Crawford to Lady Wantage, 11 August 1914, Vincent, J. (ed), The Crawford Papers, 342.Google Scholar

7 Basil Blackett Diary, 1 and 2 August 1914, Harrod, R.F., The Life of John Maynard Keynes, (Pelican, ed, Harmondsworth, 1972), 231.Google Scholar

8 Wrigley, C., Lloyd George and the Challenge of Labour: The Post-War Coalition 1918–1922, (1990), 82.Google Scholar

9 Lord Riddell's War Diary, 1914–1918 (1933)Google Scholar Entry for 13 May 1917, 250. A. Chamberlain to Hilda, 17 March 1918, AC5/1/65.

10 Hankey Diary, 16 December 1918, Roskill, Man of Secrets, II, 35.

11 Ibid. Also Churchill, to George, Lloyd, 26 12 1918Google Scholar, Gilbert, M., Winston S. Churchill, IV. Companion 1, 445Google Scholar

12 Sanders Diary, Sunday, 9 February 1919. See also Churchill, to George, Lloyd, 21 11 1918Google Scholar for Rothermere's animus towards Chamberlain, Gilbert, M., Winston S. ChurchillGoogle Scholar, IV. Companion 1, 421.

13 Chamberlain, A. to Ida, , 2 03 1919Google Scholar AC5/1/121.

14 Chamberlain, A. to Ida, , 18 04 1919Google Scholar AC5/1/125.

15 For Chamberlain's detailed account of these events see Down the Years, Chapter VIII. For account of his complaints to Lloyd George see Taylor, A.J.P., (ed) Lloyd George: A Diary by Frances Stevenson, entry for 5 03 1919, 170.Google Scholar

16 A. Chamberlain to Law, 17 May 1915, Petrie, Life and Letters, II, 24.Google Scholar

17 Chamberlain, A. to Chamberlain, N., 11 01 1919Google Scholar, NC 1/27/45.

18 SirMallet, Bernard and George, C.O., British Budgets, Second Series 1913–14 to 1920–21, (1929), 179Google Scholar.

19 Chamberlain, A. to Ida, , 1 01 1919Google Scholar, AC5/1/114.

20 George, Lloyd to Chamberlain, A., 9 01 1919Google Scholar, Lloyd George MSS F/7/2/20.

21 Mallet, & George, , British Budgets, 180182.Google Scholar

22 Aldcroft, D.H., The British Economy, Vol 1, The Years of Turmoil, 1920–1951 (Brighton 1986), 24.Google Scholar

23 Baldwin to his mother, January 1919, Baldwin, A.W, My Father: The True Story, (1955), 82.Google Scholar

24 Chamberlain, N. to Hilda, , 13 04 1919Google Scholar and to Ida, 20 April 1919 NC 18/1/208–209.

25 For a discussion of its content see Mallet, and George, , British Budgets, 175230.Google Scholar

26 Ibid, 191–5, 199. For Chamberlain's reaffirmation of his faith in food taxes on the second day of the debate while emphasizing this was not the intent of these measures see Ibid, 201.

27 Petrie, , Life and Letters, II, 144.Google Scholar

28 See Mallet, and George, , British Budgets, 229–30Google Scholar.

29 Sanders Diary, Sunday 30 November 1919, Ramsden, J. (ed) Real Old Tory Politics, 130Google Scholar. For Chamberlain's reaction see A. Chamberlain to Hilda, n.d. AC5/1/142. See also Davidson to Stamfordham, 23 December 1919, James, R.R. (ed), Memoirs of a Conservative, 96.Google Scholar

30 Jones, T. to Hankey, , 11 07 1919Google Scholar, Whitehall Diary, I, 90Google Scholar. But see Chamberlain, A. to Baldwin, S., 15 04 1920Google Scholar, Baldwin MSS 175/10.

31 Montagu Norman Diary, 13 August 1919, Boyle, A., Montagu Norman: A Biography (1967), 127.Google Scholar

32 Robert Smillie (1857–1942) President Scottish Miners Federation 1894–1918, 1922–1928; President MFGB 1912–21. Labour MP Morpeth 1923–29; Chairman PLP 1924

33 Paul Cambon (1843–1924) French Ambassador in London 1898–1920.

34 John Maynard Keynes (1883–1946) Economist. Fellow King's College, Cambridge. Civil Servant from 1906; Treasury 1915–19. Principal Treasury Representative, Paris Peace Conference. Member of MacMillan Committee on Finance and Industry, 1929–31. Economic Adviser to government during and immediately after World War II.

35 Beatrice, Austen's elder sister, had died from influenza soon after the Armistice.

36 The arrest and exile of the ‘father of Egyptian Independence’ and leader of the Wafd, Sa'ad Zaghlul Pasha (1860–1927), prompted nationalist demonstrations, riots, sabotage and assassinations of British officers after March 1919.

37 Unionist backbench unrest created by denunciations of the Prime Minister's ‘pro-German’ stance at Paris in the Northcliffe press prompted Lloyd George to return to the Commons to launch a vigorous attack upon Northcliffe's attempts to sow dissension as the product of ‘diseased vanity’ (a phrase meaningfully reinforced by simultaneous taps on his forehead) and in so doing to evade some of the substantive concerns of backbenchers.

38 Oliver Stillingfleet Locker-Lampson (1880–1954) Conservative MP Huntingdonshire 1910–22, Birmingham Handsworth 1922–45. PPS to Austen Chamberlain as Chancellor, Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the House 1919–22 and a close friend.

39 In 1926, Central Office proposed to film ministers at work with officials in shirtsleeves. ‘Bovril may do this’, a shocked Chamberlain wrote, ‘but should Baldwins?’. Young, G.M., Stanley Baldwin, 26.Google Scholar

40 Ulrich von Brockdorff-Rantzau (1869–1928) German diplomat and politician. Foreign Minister in Ebert's government, December 1918–June 1919; Ambassador to Moscow 1922.

41 Georges Benjamin Clemenceau (1841–1929) Radical journalist and politician. Deputy 1876–1893; Senator 1902–20. Minister of Interior 1906; Premier 1906–09; Premier and Minister of War 1917–20. President, Paris Peace Conference 1919. After failure to become President in 1920 retired from public life.

42 Ibn Hussein Feisal (1885–1933) A leader of Arab revolt against Turks, 1916–19. Proclaimed himself King of Syria but deposed by French, 1920; elected under British protection Emir and then King of Iraq, 1921.

43 James Henry Thomas (1874–1949) President NUR 1910 and General Secretary 1918–24, 1925–31. Labour MP Derby January 1910–May 1936 (from 1931 as National Labour). Colonial Secretary 1924, 1935–36; Lord Privy Seal 1929–30; Dominion Secretary 1930–35.

44 (Norman Fenwick) Warren Fisher (1879–1948) Chairman Board of Inland Revenue 1918–19. Permanent Secretary, Treasury and Head of Civil Service, 1919–39.

45 The Independent or Free Liberal Party formed after a meeting on 3 February 1919 under Maclean's chairmanship.

46 Donald Maclean (1864–1932) Liberal MP Bath 1906–10, Selkirk & Peebles 1910–18, Peebles & Midlothian S. 1918–22, Cornwall N 1929–32. Chairman Parliamentary Liberal Party 1919–22 and Acting Leader in Commons February 1919–February 1920. President, Board of Education 1931–32. Knighted 1917.

47 Horatio William Bottomley (1860–1933). Journalist and proprietor. Liberal MP South Hackney 1906–11 when the local Liberal Association withdrew their support. Resigned due to bankruptcy 1912. Re-elected December 1918 as an Independent but expelled from Commons on 1 August 1922 having been charged with fraudulent conversion. Sentenced to 7 years and released from prison 1927.

48 Clement Kinloch-Cooke (1854–1944) Barrister and for many years leader writer on Morning Post. Edited the Observer, Pall Mall Gazette, Empire Review. Conservative MP Devonport January 1910–23, Cardiff East 1924–29. Vice-President of Tariff Reform League.

49 Walter Cunliffe (1855–1919) Director Bank of England 1895–1918, Governor 1913–18. Chairman of Committee on Currency and Foreign Exchanges after the war. Created Baron Cunliffe.

50 John Andrew Hamilton (1859–1934) Judge of King's Bench 1909–12, Appeal Court 1912–13, Lord of Appeal in Ordinary 1913–30. Created Baron Sumner 1913 and Viscount 1927.

51 Louis Barthou (1862–1934) French lawyer and politician. Member of Clemenceau's Cabinet 1906–09 and Briand's 1909–10. Prime Minister 1913. War Minister under Briand 1920; Minister of Justice under Poincaré 1922 and 1926; Senator 1922; Foreign Minister under Doumergue 1934. Assassinated with Alexander I of Yugoslavia at Marseilles 9 October 1934.

52 Astride Briand (1862–1932) Major figure of French Third Republic. Premier ten times after 1909 and stable element at Quai d'Orsay during governmental instability of late 1920s. After war a champion of reconciliation with Germany. Locarno Treaty (1925) and Briand-Kellogg Pact outlawing war (1928) were major achievements. Defeated in presidential election 1931.

53 Vittorio Scialoja (1856–1933) Italian lawyer and politician. Senator 1904; Minister of Justice 1909–10; Foreign Minister November 1919–June 1920. Delegate to Peace Conference 1919 and League of Nations 1921–32.

54 Churchill stated that there had been 1500 political offences including 18 murders and 77 armed attacks during the latter half of 1919. On 19 December, an unsuccessful attempt was made to ambush Lord French, the Lord Lieutenant, and his party on their way to the Vice-Regal Lodge.

55 Following the murder of four Europeans by a mob, an unarmed crowd assembled in an enclosed garden at Amritsar on 13 April 1919. Failing to disperse when ordered, Brigadier-General R.E.H. Dyer (1864–1927) ordered his troops to fire. After ten minutes 379 Indians were dead and a further 1208 wounded. Dyer subsequently justified his action as a ‘merciful severity’ which prevented an even greater loss of life throughout the Punjab.

56 See Howson, S., Domestic Monetary Management in Britain 1919–38, (Cambridge 1975), 1124.Google Scholar

57 Morgan, E.V., Studies in British Financial Policy, 1914–25 (1952), 143, 203Google Scholar; Howson, . Domestic Monetary Management, 1011Google Scholar. Following the opinions of his subject, Boyle is particularly scathing of Chamberlain's ignorance, indecision and implied lack of courage on this point, Montagu Norman, 125–6Google Scholar.

58 See, for example, Pigou, A.C., Aspects of British Economic History 1918–25 (1947), 196–7Google Scholar; Morgan, Studies.

59 Howson, , Domestic Monetary Management, 1112, 2325.Google Scholar

60 Morgan, K.O., Consensus and Disunity: The Lloyd George Coalition Government, 1918–22 (Oxford 1979), 258, 369Google Scholar. Keynes also advised Chamberlain privately along precisely the same lines in December 1919–February 1920 and in a note in 1942 still held this view. Howson, , Domestic Monetary Management, 1920, 184 n.68Google Scholar.

61 Astor, W. to Garvin, J.L., 10 01 1919Google Scholar, Morgan, , Consensus and Disunity, 82Google Scholar. For similar views on Chamberlain's conservatism and orthodoxy at the Treasury see Steel-Maitland's comment in 1914 and Montagu's in 1917 cited in Dutton, , Austen Chamberlain, 115, 156Google Scholar; Chamberlain, N. to Ida, , 12 01 1919Google Scholar, NC 18/1/197.

62 George, Lloyd to Churchill, (telegram), 16 02 1919Google Scholar. The warning was reiterated at the War Cabinet on 18 March. Gilbert, M., Winston S. ChurchillGoogle Scholar, IV. Companion 1, 539, 590.

63 Jones, T. to Hankey, , 8 07 1919Google Scholar records that Chamberlain ‘drew a most lurid picture of the country's financial position’, Whitehall Diary, I, 89Google Scholar. Also Cronin, J.E., The Politics of State Expansion: War, State and Society in Twentieth Century Britain, (1991), 87.Google Scholar

64 Burk, K., ‘The Treasury: from Impotence to Power’ in K. Burk (ed) War and The State: The Transformation of British Government, 1914–1919 (1982), 100101Google Scholar. See also Lloyd George's statement, House of Commons Debates, 5 Series, 119 col. 1979–2207, 18 08 1919.Google Scholar

65 Chamberlain, A. to Ida, , 21 12 1919Google Scholar, AC5/1/140.

66 For the details of the 1920 Budget see Mallet, & George, , British Budgets, 231284.Google Scholar

67 Morgan, K.O., Consensus and Disunity, 158Google Scholar; Rowland, P., Lloyd George, (1975), 522.Google Scholar

68 Sanders Diary, 23 June and 10 july 1920, Ramsden, J. (ed) Real Old Tory Politics, 139140.Google Scholar

69 Mallet, & George, , British Budgets, 197.Google Scholar

70 For this discussion see Jones Diary, 4 June 1920, Whitehall Diary, I, 114–5Google Scholar.

71 For Lloyd George's view see Lord Riddell's Intimate Diary of the Peace Conference and After 1918–23, (1933)Google Scholar. Entry for 30 May 1920, 200.

72 Chamberlain, A. to Ida, , 27 05 1920Google Scholar, AC5/1/164. The Bank of England and Treasury were also opposed to the levy, Cronin, J.E., The Politics of State Expansion, 85.Google Scholar

73 For this charge see Pugh, M., Lloyd George (1993), 140Google Scholar; Lenman, B.P., The Eclipse of Parliament: Appearance and Reality in British Politics since 1914, (1992), 71.Google Scholar

74 Sanders Diary, 18 July 1920, Ramsden, J. (ed), Real Old Toy Politics, 140.Google Scholar

75 Chamberlain, A. to Ida, , I 08 1920Google Scholar, AC5/1/171.

76 Moggridge, D., British Monetary Policy, 1924–31: The Norman Conquest of S4.86, (Cambridge 1972), 24.Google Scholar

77 See Morgan, K.O., Consensus and Disunity, 89105Google Scholar; , K.O. and Morgan, J., Portrait of a Progressive: The Political Career of Christopher, Viscount Addison, (Oxford 1980)Google Scholar, Chapter 4–5.

78 Chamberlain, A. to Ida, , 2 07 1920Google Scholar. AC5/1/167; Chamberlain, N. to Hilda, , 11 07 1920Google Scholar NC 18/1/264.

79 On 12 February 1920 Asquith was elected for Paisley. He held East Fife from 1886–1918.

80 William Adamson (1863–1936) Labour MP for Fife West 1910–31; Scottish Secretary 1924, 1929–31; Chairman PLP 1917–21.

81 On 16 January 1920 the Allied Supreme Council ended the blockade of Soviet Russia in the belief this would ‘do more to oust or modify Bolshevism than armed intervention ever accomplished’. George, Lloyd, House of Commons Debates 125 col 43, 10 02 1920.Google Scholar

82 Alexander Vasilievich Kolchak (1870–1920) Vice-Admiral Russian Imperial Navy 1916; C-in-C Black Sea Fleet 1916–17; Minister of War in Siberian White Russian Government 1918. Declared himself “Supreme Ruler” with dictatorial powers, November 1918 but resigned in favour of Denikin in December 1919. Shot by Bolsheviks February 1920.

83 Anton Ivanovich Denikin (1872–1947) Entered Tsarist Army 1887; Deputy Chief of Staff and Commander of Western Front (later S.W. Front) 1917; C-in-C White Forces of South 1918–19. Escaped to France 1920 and emigrated to USA 1945.

84 Nikolai Nikolaevich Yudenich (1862–1933) Russian soldier. Lt-General 1913; Commander Tsarist in Caucasus 1914; C-in-C White Russian North West Army July 1919. Retired to England and France.

85 Raymond Poincaré (1860–1934) French Premier 1911–13; President of Republic 1913–20; Premier and Foreign Minister 1922–24; Premier 1926–29. Obstinate defender of extreme French claims and detested by Chamberlain and many other British negotiators.

86 Christopher Addison (1869–1951) Liberal MP for Shoreditch 1910–22 and Labour MP for Swindon 1929–31 and 1934–35. Parliamentary Secretary Board of Education 1914–1915; Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Munitions 1915–1916; Minister of Munirions 1916–1917; Minister of Reconstruction 1917–1919; President Local Government Board 1919; Minister of Health 1919–1921; Minister without Portfolio 1921; Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture 1929–1930; Minister of Agriculture 1930–1931; Dominion Secretary 1945–1947; Commonwealth Secretary 1947; Lord Privy Seal, 1947–1951; Paymaster-General 1948–1949; Lord President of Council 1951. Created K.G. 1947; Baron Addison 1937 and Viscount 1945.

87 Law tentatively offered Neville Chamberlain a junior ministerial position with the hint that this may be his last chance. Memories of his earlier treatment by Lloyd George at National Service were too strong and he declined without consulting his brother.

88 On 6 April 1920 the French used Moroccan troops as their advance guard in occupying Frankfurt. Although racial tension on the Rhine had been rising since the deployment of black French troops on the Rhine in the spring 1919, this event set the stage for the first massive coordinated response from the Germans turning the race issue into an international cause célèbre. See Nelson, K.L., ‘The “Black Horror on the Rhine”: Race as a Factor in Post-World War I Diplomacy’, Journal of Modem History, 42.4 12 1970, 606628.Google Scholar

89 (Etienne) Alexandre Millerand (1859–1943) French lawyer and politician. Elected as extreme left Deputy in 1885. After 1899 various ministerial offices including War Minister in 1914, Foreign Minister 1920. President of the Republic 1920–24.

90 Robert Stevenson Horne (1871–1940) Conservative MP for Glasgow Hillhead 1918–37. Minister of Labour 1919–20; President Board of Trade 1920–21; Chancellor of Exchequer 1921–22. Created K.B.E. 1918; G.B.E. 1920; Viscount Home of Slamannan 1937.

91 Laming Worthington-Evans (1868–1931) Conservative MP for Colchester 1910–29, St George's 1929–31. Minister of Blockade 1918–19; Minister of Pensions 1919–20; Minister without Portfolio 1920–21; Secretary for War 1921–22, 1924–29; Postmaster-General 1923–24. Created baronet 1916 (when assumed the additional surname of Worthington) and G.B.E. 1922.

92 Edward Shortt (1862–1935) Liberal MP for Newcastle-upon-Tyne 1910–22. Chief Secretary for Ireland May 1918–January 1919; Home Secretary 1919–October 1922.

93 Thomas James Macnamara (1861–1931) Liberal MP for Camberwell North 1900–18 and Coalition Liberal for renamed Camberwell NW 1918–24. Parliamentary Secretary Local Government Board January 1907–April 1908; Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to Admiralty, 1908–April 1920; Minister of Labour March 1920–October 1922.

94 James Louis Garvin (1864–1947) Editor of The Observer 19081942Google Scholar and Pall Mall Gazette 19121915Google Scholar. Official biographer of Joseph Chamberlain.

95 At the first Hythe Conference on 15–16 May 1920 Lloyd George and Chamberlain met Millerand and Marsal, the French Finance Minister, to repair the alliance and concert strategy concerning German disarmament and reparation payments for the impending meeting with the Germans. This was the first of several conferences held near Lympne at the luxurious home of Lloyd George's PPS Sir Philip Sassoon.

96 Following his success at San Remo in April, at a further conference at Boulogne on 21–22 June Lloyd George and Millerand agreed to a lump sum for Germany's indemnity of £4,500M spread over 35 years.

97 Although relieved of his command and put on half pay after the Amritsar massacre, Dyer received much support in the Parliamentary debate on 8 July 1920 when Montagu was the victim of vigorous attack upon his Jewish origin from the Conservative right-wing. Although Churchill's intervention saved the day for the government, Carson led 129 Unionists in the vote against the Government on a censure motion.

98 Baron Peter Nikolayevitch Wrangel (1872–1928) Distinguished Russian soldier of Russo-Japanese and Great War, succeeding Denikin as commander of anti-Bolshevik forces in south Russia. Held Crimea until November 1920 when evacuated to the Balkans.

99 Concemore T. Cramp (1876–1933) General Secretary, NUR 1920; Chairman Labour Party 1925; President, International Transport Worker's Federation 1926. Served on many Committees of Inquiry and Royal Commissions in 1920s.

100 Edward Grey (1862–1933) Liberal MP for Berwick 1885–1916. Parliamentary Under Secretary Foreign Office August 1892–June 1895; Foreign Secretary December 1905–December 16. Succeeded grandfather as 3rd baronet 1882, created K.G. 1912 and Viscount Grey of Falloden 1916. Temporary Ambassador to USA 1919. Liberal leader in House of Lords 1916 and 1921–24.

101 General Sir (Cecil Frederick) Nevil MacCready (1862–1946) Served Egypt and South Africa; Adjutant-General BEF 1914–16; Adjutant-General to the Forces 1916–18; Commissioner of Metropolitan Police 1918–20. G.O. C-in-C Ireland 1920–22.

102 John Anderson (1882–1958) Civil servant, Secretary Ministry of Shipping 1917–19; Chairman Board of Inland Revenue 1919–22. Joint Under-Secretary to Lord Lieutenant of Ireland 1920; Permanent Under-Secretary Home Office 1922–32; Governor of Bengal 1932–37. Independent National MP for Scottish Universities 1938–50; Lord Privy Seal 1938–39; Home Secretary 1939–40; Lord President of the Council 1940–43; Chancellor of Exchequer 1943–45. Created K.C.B. in 1919, G.C.B. 1923 and Viscount Waverly 1952. A consistent voice for sanity amidst the carnage of ‘retaliation’.

103 (Thomas) Hamar Greenwood (1870–1948) Liberal MP York 1906–10, Sunderland 1910–22 and Conservative MP for Walthamstow (East) 1924–29. Under-Secretary for Home Affairs 1919; Secretary for Overseas Trade 1919–1920; Chief Secretary for Ireland 1920–1922. Created Baronet 1915, Baron Greenwood 1929 and Viscount 1937.

104 On the previous day (11 December 1920) martial law was formally proclaimed for the whole of Ireland with considerable latitude for interpretation.

105 Auckland Campbell Geddes (1879–1954) Unionist MP for Basingstoke 1917–20. Minister of National Service 1917–1919; President Local Government Board 1918–1919; Minister of Reconstruction 1919; President Board of Trade 1919–March 1920; Ambassador to Washington 1920–24. Created K.C.B. 1917, G.C.M.G. 1922. Baron Geddes 1942.